TikTok video leads to discovery of never-before-seen eel species in Bihar

Scientists identified a new underground eel species in Bihar after tracing a fish seen in a TikTok video. The find marks the first recorded subterranean fish from the Ganga Basin and underscores gaps in knowledge of underground biodiversity.The remarkable discovery began in 2024 when researchers came across a TikTok video showing a tiny, unusual fish. (Photo: Ishan Agarwal)A chance discovery sparked by a short TikTok video has led scientists to identify a previously unknown species of underground eel living beneath the Gangetic plains of Bihar, marking the first-ever record of a subterranean fish from the vast Ganga Basin.The newly discovered species, named Gangaichthys indonepalicus, belongs to the earthworm eel family and has been described as both a new genus and a new species.The findings were published in the scientific journal ZooKeys by an international team of researchers from India and China.The remarkable discovery began in 2024 when researchers came across a TikTok video showing a tiny, unusual fish emerging from a borewell near the India-Nepal border. "The unique morphology of the fish in the video, and the fact that there are no known stygobitic fish from the region, motivated us to track down the species," the research team said. What followed was an intensive search across Bihar's groundwater systems. Researchers identified potential borewells and sought permission from owners before manually pumping thousands of litres of water in hopes of finding the mysterious creature.According to researcher Akshay Khandekar of the Thackeray Wildlife Foundation, the effort was far from easy. The first specimen appeared only after around 2,000 litres of water had been pumped out.Unfortunately, it was damaged during extraction and died immediately. Scientists eventually recovered a second intact specimen after pumping an additional 500 litres, which became the official reference specimen for the species.Measuring only about four centimetres long, the fish is perfectly adapted to life underground. It has a pale, translucent body, reduced eyes hidden beneath skin and appears to lack ribs, features commonly associated with animals that spend their entire lives in darkness.Using advanced micro-CT scans and genetic analyses, researchers confirmed that the fish represents a completely distinct lineage within the earthworm eel family.The genus name, Gangaichthys, translates to "fish of the Ganga," reflecting its discovery in the Gangetic Basin. The species name, indonepalicus, honors its distribution along the India-Nepal border.Scientists say the discovery highlights how little is known about India's underground biodiversity and suggests that many more hidden species may still await discovery beneath the country's surface.- EndsPublished By: Sibu Kumar TripathiPublished On: Aug 18, 2026 11:41 IST