Overview

• Researchers from Gauhati University and partner institutions discovered Schistura densiclava in Krem Mawjymbuin cave in Meghalaya's East Khasi Hills.
• The fish is classified as a troglophile, capable of surviving in both cave and surface waters, unlike fully cave-adapted species that lose pigment and eyesight.
• Schistura densiclava has a pale yellow-green body with bold black bars and a thick stripe near the dorsal fin, which inspired its name meaning 'thick stripe' in Latin.
• Genetic testing confirmed the fish as a new species, marking the sixth cave-associated fish identified in Meghalaya and the third described by Gauhati University scientists.
• The discovery underscores the ecological significance of Meghalaya's limestone caves, which remain largely untouched by human activity and are biodiversity hotspots.