A fish that hadn’t been recorded since the first half of the 20th century – and that scientists worried may be extinct – has been rediscovered in India.

According to research recently published in Zootaxa, the Chel Snakehead (Channa amphibeus) is still swimming in the waters of the Chel River system in India’s Himalayan region. Three specimens and photos taken in 2024 provided new documentation of the species, which was last recorded from specimens taken between 1918 and 1933.

Because subsequent searches had not located the species, there were fears that it was gone, but scientists were tipped off about its survival after being told that members of a tribe in West Bengal had been eating it.

The Thackeray Wildlife Foundation, founded by Tejas Thackery, a co-author of the research, said in a Facebook post, “The resolution of this long-standing mystery in Indian ichthyology reinforces the importance of continued exploration and highlights the persistence of biodiversity, even in species once thought lost to time.”

Snakeheads are air-breathing freshwater fish with pointy teeth. The Chel Snakehead stands out due to its chrome-yellow to orange stripes and bright neon patch under its eye. According to the post from the wildlife foundation, it also has the most lateral-line scales among all snakeheads in the Gachua group.

As more and more species face the threat of extinction, news like this is encouraging. If you’d like to contribute to efforts to save other threatened species, click here!