New gudgeon goby fish species Butis bargabhimae discovered in West Bengal’s Rupnarayan River

Key facts

• Scientists from Tamralipta Mahavidyalaya and Vidyasagar University identified the new estuarine fish species Butis bargabhimae in the Rupnarayan River near Tamluk, West Bengal.
• Fieldwork and specimen collection took place between June 2022 and August 2024, yielding seven specimens with traditional hand nets and trawl nets by local fishermen.
• The species is distinguished by interorbital scales between the eyes, auxiliary scales across the body, and light-and-dark bands on the pectoral fins, plus DNA similarity of only 86% to its nearest relatives.
• The specific epithet bargabhimae honours the local Hindu deity Bargabhima, linking the region’s biodiversity to its cultural heritage.
• DNA comparisons revealed that several fish earlier recorded from Bangladesh and other parts of India had been misidentified and likely belong to the new species or its close relatives.