YANGON (Xinhua): Two new species of large catfish have been discovered in rivers in China and Myanmar, a recent report in the taxonomic journal Zoosystematics and Evolution revealed.
The findings were published in the journal's taxonomic review led by researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in collaboration with Myanmar partners, the report said.
The newly described species, Bagarius protos and Bagarius dolichonema, were identified in China's Salween River and Myanmar's Ayeyarwady River, respectively. Both species are large, bottom-dwelling predators, according to the report.
The genus Bagarius is a group of large predatory fish and includes some of the largest catfishes in Asia, known for their massive size and unusual appearance.
The largest individuals can reach lengths of up to 2 meters, while even the smallest species exceed 20 centimeters in standard length, the report said.
The purpose of the taxonomic paper is to formally describe these two previously unnamed species to support a more comprehensive understanding of fish diversity in Southeast Asia, the report added.
The discovery follows two decades of fieldwork and analysis, with specimens collected from China and Myanmar between 2004 and 2024, according to the report. - Xinhua
