Fish unseen by scientists for 40 years rediscovered in Papua New Guinea

A small freshwater fish that had not been confirmed by scientists since 1985 has been rediscovered in Papua New Guinea’s Sepik River. The spinach pipefish, a poorly understood species related to seahorses and seadragons, was found during a research expedition that relied heavily on local communities and fisherfolk. According to Mongabay, Indigenous fisherwoman Helen Asu caught two of the elusive fish in June 2026 while using a traditional hand net to catch prawns. Her discovery came on the final day of the research team’s two-week search. Scientists later confirmed that the fish was indeed the spinach pipefish, ending a decades-long mystery and offering fresh hope for other species considered lost to science.