A shrub that had not been recorded for more than two centuries has been rediscovered in Assam, while scientists have identified two previously unknown fish species living in underground water systems.
Its rediscovery highlights how plant species can remain undocumented for long periods, even as researchers continue to study the natural world. The findings also include two fish species, Gitchak nakana and Rakthamichthys anchi, discovered in wells in Goalpara. Both live in subterranean groundwater environments, which remain less explored than rivers, lakes and other surface-water habitats. The discoveries could help scientists better understand how fish survive in dark underground waters. They also highlight the need to protect these habitats from pollution and land-use changes.
The shrub, Ardisia colorata, was first described in 1821 but had remained unrecorded for 204 years, according to the chief minister’s post.
