‘Shiny’ creature with ‘hooked’ teeth found in river in China. It’s a new species
In a river of southeastern China, a group of “shiny” creatures with “large” eyes swam through “murky” waters. Something about the animals caught the attention of visiting scientists — and for good reason.
They turned out to be a new species.
A team of researchers visited a river of Guangdong Province and nearby markets in July 2024 as part of a project to survey aquatic biodiversity, according to a study published Aug. 1 in the peer-reviewed journal Diversity.
During their visit, the team used “drift nets” and fishing rods to catch some “silvery” fish as well as purchased some from the “local market,” the study said. Intrigued, researchers took a closer look at the fish and analyzed its DNA.
To their surprise, researchers realized they’d discovered a new species: Hainania minzhengi, Minzheng Li’s sharpbelly fish.
Minzheng Li’s sharpbelly fish have “elongated” bodies reaching over 4 inches in length, the study said. Their heads are “blunt” with “large” eyes and “pointed” snouts. Their mouths have three rows of teeth with “hooked tips.” Their bodies are “covered in shiny, fragile scales.”
A photo shows the “silvery” coloring of the new species. Its scales look almost iridescent, and a neon yellow stripe runs down its side.
Minzheng Li’s sharpbelly fish were found in river “tributaries with slower water flow, murky water, and gravel” ground, researchers said. The fish are social and feed “on various aquatic invertebrates and algae.” While in aquariums, the fish showed some “aggression and harmless combat behaviors” with each other.
The new species is “commonly captured and sold as food at the local market,” the study said.
Researchers said they named the new species after Minzheng Li because of “his efforts in the specimen collection of this species.”
So far, the new species has only been found at one river in Guangdong Province, a region along the southeastern coast of China, the study said.
The new species was identified by its DNA, eye size, head shape, body proportions, scale pattern and other subtle physical features, the study said.
The research team included Haotian Lei, Ziyu Gong and Xuankun Li.
This story was originally published August 4, 2025 at 1:48 PM with the headline "‘Shiny’ creature with ‘hooked’ teeth found in river in China. It’s a new species."
