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According to a World Economic Forum report, roughly 80 % of living species have yet to be formally described. Each year, researchers worldwide uncover more than 10,000 new species—often in the deep sea or in habitats that have been overlooked for decades.
In a study published in Zoosystematics and Evolution on June 24, 2024, ichthyologists announced the formal recognition of two previously unclassified species of the Bagarius genus. The species are named Bagarius protos and Bagarius dolichonema.
Bagarius catfish are large, predatory bottom‑feeders that have existed since at least the Pliocene epoch (5.3 – 2.6 million years ago). The newly identified species were found in the Salween River Basin in southern China (B. protos) and the Irrawaddy River Basin in Myanmar (B. dolichonema).
Researchers spent two decades collecting samples. The average length recorded by the team is roughly 1 ft (12 in) for B. protos and 8.5 in for B. dolichonema, though local fishermen report individuals that can exceed these measurements.
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For centuries, communities along the Salween River have fished these catfish using thick nylon ropes baited with insect larvae. Local accounts describe B. protos as a sizeable predator that can reach up to 100 kg (220 lb). While the scientific team has not yet documented specimens of that size, regional reports support the possibility of such growth.
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The Bagarius genus includes the notorious goonch, formerly identified as B. yarrelli but now classified as B. bagarius. The goonch can grow to 6 ft in length and weigh up to 250 lb—size estimates that align with local reports of B. protos.
The goonch gained international attention in the late 2000s after a series of fatal encounters in the Kali River on the India‑Nepal border, which were featured in the Animal Planet series “River Monsters.” While no similar incidents have been reported for B. protos, the potential for large size underscores the need for cautious interaction with these fish.
