TikTok aids scientists to report an unknown subterranean fish in the Gangetic Basin
Scientists have identified a new species of subterranean eel-like fish, Gangaichthys indonepalicus, in the Gangetic Basin after a video of the creature appeared on TikTok. The discovery highlights the role of social media in modern citizen science and biological research.
Why it matters
This discovery demonstrates how digital platforms can facilitate scientific breakthroughs in remote or under-studied ecosystems.
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In 2024 a short video clip circulated on TikTok showed an unknown, tiny, colourless creature emerge from a borewell near the border between India and Nepal, beneath the Indo-Gangetic plain. Scientists soon began studying this first recorded subterranean eel-like fish in the Gangetic Basin and named it Gangaichthys indonepalicus .
“Gangaichthys” means “fish of the Ganga” while “indonepalicus” connotes the species’ geographical distribution. The new species was reported in the journal ZooKeys. No more than 4 cm in length, these fish are have clearly evolved to survive in complete darkness: their eyes are covered by skin and their bodies are translucent.
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