Scientists identify a new species of underground, translucent eel in India after a TikTok video draws attention to the animal and helps researchers locate it. The species is described as Gangaichthys indonepalicus, and the discovery relies on collecting a specimen from its subterranean habitat.
Researchers obtain the eel by using manual water pumping methods at a site in the Ganges region. Accounts across outlets describe scientists pumping large volumes of water—over 600 gallons in one report and thousands of litres in another—to flush or capture the eel for study. The outreach element differs by outlet emphasis: one focuses on how social media aided the search, while another highlights the hands-on collection approach and the scale of the manual work.
Overall, both reports agree that the discovery follows guidance from a TikTok video and that researchers must intervene directly—using handpumps and substantial water volumes—to access and retrieve the underground specimen for scientific examination.
