The Chel snakehead was a fish thought to have been extinct for nearly the last century. Recently, however, it has been sighted in India. The rare freshwater fish appeared in the Himalayan region and showed scientists how resilient these species can be in the face of adversity.
The Missing Fish
The last time that anyone had seen the missing fish was between 1918 and 1933. As the 1940s crept in, there were no more sightings. As decades went by, scientists had no choice but to assume that the fish had gone extinct.
The Chel River
A local tribe was eating a local fish found in the Chel River in West Bengal. Upon closer inspection, it was found that the fish that was being eaten was, in fact, the chel snakehead. Researchers searched the river and found three specimens that were alive.
Identifying Features
The Chel snakehead has some distinct features that helped researchers identify the species. It is the biggest of the snakehead species and also has vibrant green scales with yellow stripes on its body. The bright colors help to identify it among other fish species in the Chel River.
Finding The Fish
When researchers found out that the local tribe was consuming the fish, they decided to investigate further. The information that the tribe provided was crucial in locating the live specimens in the river. Without the tribe, the fish could have been undiscovered for many more years.
Thackeray Wildlife Foundation
After the rumors of the species being rediscovered, several parties became involved, including the Thackeray Wildlife Foundation, to identify the fish and make sure that it was, in fact, the long-thought-extinct Chel snakehead. After they verified it was the same species found on the foundation – Tejas Thackeray emphasized the importance of discovery through exploration.
Endemic Regions
Now that the Chel snakehead has been sighted in the Chel River again, its endemic regions can be reidentified. The probability of the species moving out of the area is low due to no confirmed sightings. The Chel River system is an important ecosystem for freshwater fish and is now the only environment in which they survive.
Conservation
With surviving members of the species being found, it’s crucial that conservation work is swifty undertaken to ensure that they do not disappear from the face of the Earth again. Its rediscovery brings the hope that other extinct marine life could be found alive.
Too Early For Estimates
It’s too early to estimate just how small the population of surviving Chel snakeheads is, but with time, more may rediscovered in the river. The species could move from being classified to extinct as threatened, but only time will tell once better population estimates are given.
Threats To The Species
Like many other species, the Chel snakehead has real threats to its population, such as climate change and habitat destruction. The balance of respecting local customs and conservation is a fine line that must be treaded carefully.
A Unique Species
The Chel snakehead is a strikingly unique looking fish. They have the most lateral scales among snakehead fish and can have anywhere from chrome-yellow to orange stripes along their body. They also have another neon stripe underneath their eye.
Other Examples Of Rediscovered Fish
Along with the rediscovery of the Chel snakehead, there are other thought-to-be extinct species being rediscovered, showing how resilient nature can be. Some of these examples are the giant salmon carp and the long-beaked echidna.
Still, More To Explore
Despite the world being mapped out, there are still many places that need more exploration in order to find some of nature’s best-kept secrets – the Chel snakehead is a great example of this. In the future, hopefully, their population can grow, and more species can be rediscovered.
