On 25th, CCTV reporter learned from Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences that researchers discovered a new species of blind plateau loach, Xichou Plateau Loach, when they visited Xichou County, Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province.

Xichou County is a typical karst landform in southwest China, which breeds abundant groundwater resources. Researchers from the Group of Systematic Evolution and Biogeography of Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, discovered a new species of highland loach with blindness when they visited Xichou County. After systematic research, they named it Xichou Plateau Loach.

The eyes of Alpine Loach in Xichou are highly degenerated into a tiny eye spot, with the dorsal fin starting point in front of the ventral fin, slender tail stalk, smooth and scaleless body, well-developed posterior chamber of swim bladder, long oval shape and short intestine, and folded in a "Z" shape behind the stomach.

The researchers said that the discovery of plateau loach in Xichou enriched the records of cave fish in China, and also revealed the extremely special biodiversity in Xichou County.

The research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation, Yunnan Science and Technology Project and Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Center of China Academy of Sciences.

news background

China has recorded more than 1 species of cave fish, and the species diversity ranks first in the world. The genus Alpinia belongs to CYPRINIDAE, which is the largest group in the family Acidoptera. At present, there are more than 12 known species, including about 26 cave species (including the new species Alpinia xichou discovered this time).

what a gain!