River creature with ‘thick’ lips, ‘glittery’ fins found in China. It’s a new species
In a river of southern China, a gray creature with “thick” lips and “glittery” fins swam along the stones, or tried to, at least. But something caught it and pulled it to the surface.
Scientists looked at their catch — and discovered a new species.
Researchers visited several rivers in Guangxi between 2020 and 2024 to survey wildlife, according to a study published Oct. 4 in the peer-reviewed journal ZooKeys. They were mostly interested in a group of small fish known as gudgeons.
During their surveys, researchers noticed dozens of fish with unique lips, the study said. They took a closer look at the animals and quickly realized they’d discovered a new species: Microphysogobio punctatus, or the spotted gudgeon.
Spotted gudgeons can reach just over 3 inches in length, the study said. They have “elongated” heads and bodies with “glittery green” fins. Their “horseshoe-shaped” mouths have “thick” lips with a “heart-shaped” central pad on the lower lip.
Photos show the gray-brown coloring and darker black blotches of the new species.
Researchers said they named the new species after the Latin word “punctum,” or “spot,” because of the “numerous black spots” on its body and fins.
Spotted gudgeons were found in “slow flowing,” sandy rivers “with gravel and pebbles,” the study said.
So far, spotted gudgeons have been found in two rivers of Guangxi, an autonomous region in southern China bordering Vietnam.
The new species was identified by its DNA, lips, mouth shape, scale pattern, fin coloring and other subtle physical features, the study said.
The research team included Zhi-Xian Sun, Wen-Qiao Tang and Ya-Hui Zhao.
This story was originally published October 8, 2024 at 10:49 AM with the headline "River creature with ‘thick’ lips, ‘glittery’ fins found in China. It’s a new species."
