Shrub first recorded in 1821 rediscovered in Assam, alongside 2 new fish species
Shrub rediscovered after 204 yearsThe shrub, Ardisia colorata, was first described in 1821 but had remained unrecorded for 204 years, according to the chief miner’s post. Its rediscovery highlights how plant species can remain undocumented for long periods, even as researchers continue to study the natural world.The findings also include two fish species, Gitchak nakana and Rakthamichthys anchi, discovered in wells in Goalpara. Both live in subterranean groundwater environments, which remain less explored than rivers, lakes and other surface-water habitats.According to a report Mongabay India, Gitchak nakana is a tiny, blind loach measuring around two centimetres. Its transparent body appears reddish because its blood and internal organs are visible through its skin. The second species, Rakthamichthys anchi, is a slender, eel-like fish belonging to the swamp eel family.Mongabay India also reported that researcher Wimarithy K. Marak first collected a specimen of Gitchak nakana in 2021 after encountering an unusual creature in a well and sharing its photograph with her supervisor. Another specimen, later identified as Rakthamichthys anchi, was collected in 2024 after a relative encountered it while cleaning a well.The discoveries could help scients better understand how fish survive in dark underground waters. They also highlight the need to protect these habitats from pollution and land-use changes.(Also Read:
