‘Large’-headed river creature found in South Africa turns out to be new species
In a murky river of South Africa, a “large”-headed creature swam through the water — or tried to — but something pulled it toward the surface.
Unbeknownst to the scientists, they’d just caught a new species.
Researchers visited the Umzimkhulu River in 2017 to search for an extinct fish species, the Maluti redfin minnow, according to a study published Jan. 2 in the peer-reviewed journal Zoosystematics and Evolution.
The minnow had been abundant in a nearby area during the early 1900s, but “predation and competition” with introduced trout led to its extinction, the study said. Still, the team hoped the species might just be locally extinct and other populations had survived without being noticed.
During their searches of the Umzimkhulu River, researchers caught a dozen minnows that looked similar to the extinct species.
But were these fish actually Maluti redfin minnows? The question grew into a “long-standing debate,” per the study.
Hoping to reach a definitive answer, a team of researchers analyzed the DNA of the newly found minnows, studied its appearance and compared it to other known species. A pattern began to emerge, and researchers realized they’d discovered a new species: Pseudobarbus kubhekai, or the Umzimkhulu redfin minnow.
Umzimkhulu redfin minnows can reach over 3 inches in length, the study said. They have “large” heads with “blunt” snouts, “large” eyes and “sickle-shaped” mouths. Their bodies, which are “moderately elongate,” are covered “with numerous” small bumps.
Photos show the “olive-brown” coloring of the new species and the “bright orange-red” spots near its fins.
Umzimkhulu redfin minnows live in shallow rocky streams, the study said. Much of their lifestyle and biology remains unknown.
Researchers said they named the new species “kubhekai” after Skhumbuzo Kubheka, a wildlife researcher who helped discover it “through extensive sampling efforts.”
The new species’ common name refers to the Umzimkhulu River where it was first discovered and, so far, the only area where it has been found. The river is in eastern South Africa and a roughly 400-mile drive southeast from Johannesburg.
Researchers described Umzimkhulu redfin minnows as “a critically endangered species” and kept its exact location secret “due to conservation sensitivities,” the study said. They urged conservationists and government officials to take action to help protect the new species from extinction.
The new species was identified by its scale pattern, coloring, skeleton and other subtle physical features, the study said. DNA analysis found the new species had at least 6% genetic divergence from other related species.
The research team included Fatah Zarei, Xiluva Mathebula and Albert Chakona.
This story was originally published January 14, 2025 at 10:56 AM with the headline "‘Large’-headed river creature found in South Africa turns out to be new species."
