Aquatic creature with ‘pointed’ teeth found hiding in Brazil. It’s a new species
In a stream of eastern Brazil, a “slender” creature with “pointed” teeth swam through the roots of an invasive plant. Suddenly something enveloped it and pulled it toward the surface.
Scientists looked at their catch — and discovered a new species.
A team of researchers visited Jussari municipality in 2024 as part of a project to survey aquatic wildlife. Their efforts focused on remnants of the Atlantic Forest, “one of the most diverse and threatened biodiversity hotspots in the world,” according to a study published Oct. 5 in the peer-reviewed Journal of Fish Biology.
Researchers originally intended to collect more specimens of two known catfish species, except they couldn’t find the fish, the study said. Instead, the team encountered some unfamiliar-looking fish hiding in plant roots.
Intrigued, researchers took a closer look at the fish and quickly realized they’d discovered a new species: Ituglanis jussariensis, or the Jussari catfish.
Jussari catfish have “moderately slender” bodies reaching about 2 inches long, the study said. Their heads are “trapezoidal” with black eyes and “pointed” teeth “arranged in irregular rows.”
Photos show the “brownish yellow” coloring of the new species. Dark brown blotches of varying sizes dot their sides and back. Their fins and whisker-like barbels are translucent.
Jussari catfish were found in a “clearwater stream” and hiding “mainly in the roots of the invasive species Hedychium coronarium,” a type of ginger lily, researchers said. Much about the new species’ lifestyle and behavior remains unknown.
Researchers did “extensive” searches of the nearby rivers but couldn’t find any more Jussari catfish. Instead, the area was “surrounded by farms, and an apparent deforestation process seems to have begun.” The team noted that the new species could be endangered but further surveys are needed to confirm.
Researchers said they named the new species after Jussari municipality where it was first discovered and, so far, the only place where it has been found. The site is in Bahia state and a roughly 750-mile drive northeast from Rio de Janeiro.
The new species was identified by its skeleton, coloring, fin shape, teeth, body proportions and other subtle physical features, the study said. Researchers did a “preliminary” DNA analysis but needed more data from other fish species to compare to the new species.
The research team included Paulo Vilardo, Axel Katz and Wilson Costa.
This story was originally published October 7, 2025 at 11:03 AM with the headline "Aquatic creature with ‘pointed’ teeth found hiding in Brazil. It’s a new species."
