A new cave-dwelling fish species, Protocobitis longicostatus.

[Photo/Scientific Research Academy of Guangxi Environmental Protection]

A team of Chinese researchers has discovered a new cave-dwelling fish species, Protocobitis longicostatus, in Debao county of Baise city, South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

The research findings were published in a recent edition of the international academic journal Zoological Science.

According to the researchers, the newly discovered Protocobitis longicostatus belongs to the genus Protocobitis, which currently comprises four recorded species.

The findings revealed that the new species is a typical cave-dwelling fish, presenting distinctive morphological adaptations such as colorless bodies, absence of eyes, and reduced scales and ribs in response to the extreme cave habitats.

The research was jointly conducted by the biodiversity monitoring institute with Zhejiang Forest Resource Monitoring Center, Guangxi Normal University (GXNU), and China Railway Nanning Group Co Ltd.

"The Cave-dwelling fish species is expected to serve as an ideal animal model for studying certain diseases of human beings," said Du Lina, an associate professor at GXNU, adding that the differences in rib development among species of genus Protocobitis can also contribute to the study of fish evolution.

The researchers also noted that the cave-dwelling fish species faces threats due to a lack of food and human activities.

Source: Xinhua