Our annual New Species report, highlights the 260 freshwater fish described throughout 2024.

A fish that lives not in water but in … mud!

Just one of the weird and wonderful new fishes described to science in 2024: This World Wildlife Day, SHOAL release their fourth annual New Species report. New Species 2024 draws attention the the 260 freshwater fish species described throughout the year, and celebrates the taxonomists who work so hard to bring these fishes to the light.

The class of 2024 includes:

• Berlin’s Bloodworm Eel, a blind eel uniquely adapted to life in the mud
• Adriana’s Pearlfish, discovered just meters from a tourist path, a stone’s throw from the mighty Iguazú Falls, Argentina.
• Two species of pacu, a vegetarian close relative of the piranha, including one named after the Lord of the Rings villain Lord Sauron.

We also catch up with three leading taxonomists to learn more about their incredible work.

Let’s look at the numbers!

Of the 260 freshwater fish first described in 2024, there are:

• 137 from Asia
• 84 from South America
• 28 from Africa
• 4 from Europe
• 4 from North America
• 3 from Oceania

“Just as taxonomic discovery opens the doors to later scientific research and understanding, we hope that getting to know the stories of each of these new freshwater fish species will help strengthen the desire to protect them and the habitats they need to survive. Sure, conservation news can sometimes be depressing; but there yet remains so much biological richness that is worth fighting for.”

Chouly Ou and Nathaniel NG, SHOAL

New Species 2024 is a collaboration…

…between SHOAL, the IUCN Freshwater Fish Specialist Group, and the California Academy of Sciences. As well as highlighting the newly described species, it deep dives into a selection of fish species and showcases some of their incredible adaptations.

The report is the fourth edition of SHOAL’s annual release of New Species reports. Read previous New Species editions here.

Read this year’s below ↓