Glaridoglanis verruciloba sp. nov., a new species of catfish discovered by Chinese researchers in Zayu county, Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region Photo: Xinhua

Chinese researchers have discovered a new species of catfish in Zayu county, Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, marking China's another important advance in the study of fish diversity and biological evolution in the Himalayan region, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Saturday.

The species official named Glaridoglanis verruciloba sp. nov, is currently known to be distributed only in the Zayu River basin on the southeastern edge of the Himalayas, indicating an extremely high level of regional endemism. 

This discovery holds significant scientific value of biodiversity study in the Himalayan region, and provides a crucial specimen basis for subsequent research on the phylogenetic evolution of fish in the region. 

In April this year, while conducting a systematic survey of fish resources in Zayu county, the research team collected a batch of specimens that were initially identified as G. andersonii.

However, through detailed morphological comparisons and molecular phylogenetic analyses, combined with clear evidence of genetic divergence, researchers confirmed the specimens as a distinct new species and formally named it as Glaridoglanis verruciloba sp. nov.

The findings were published by a joint research team from the Institute of Plateau Biology of Xizang Autonomous Region, Xizang Museum of Natural Science and the Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, on December 10 (Beijing time) in the international academic journal ZooKeys. 

Global Times