In an underground cave in Meghalaya, researchers have discovered a cave fish that is much bigger—growing to nearly a foot and half in length and weighing about 10 times more than any known species.
- The “troglomorphic fish” was discovered in February 2019, according to recently released research journal Cave and Karst Science.
- The fish discovered in Meghalaya is longer than the longest previously known species. The largest individual seen in the cave was in excess of 400 mm [15.8 inches] in standard length making it, by far, the largest known subterranean fish found to date.
- The fish was discovered by Dr DB Harries, a biologist at the Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh.
- Before this discovery in Meghalaya, the two longest known subterranean fish species are the blind swamp eel (Ophisternon infernale), native to Mexico’s Yucátan, and the blind cave eel (Ophisternon candidum), from western Australia.
