3-foot-long river creature with ‘large’ teeth found in Vietnam. It’s a new species
In a river of southern Vietnam, a 3-foot-long creature with “large” teeth maneuvered through the brackish water — or tried to, at least. But something closed around the wrinkly animal and pulled it toward the surface.
The trawlers didn’t know it, but they’d just caught a new species.
Researchers visited the Mekong River estuary near Ho Chi Minh City between 2023 and 2024 to survey a group of fish known as snake eels, according to a study published March 13 in the peer-reviewed journal ZooKeys.
During their searches of the river, port and markets, the team found several unfamiliar-looking eels, the study said. Intrigued, they took a closer look at the animals and quickly realized they’d discovered a new species: Ophichthus cuulongensis, or Mekong’s estuary snake eel.
Mekong’s estuary snake eels are considered “extremely elongate,” known to reach over 39 inches in length, the study said. They have “short” heads, wrinkly skin and “moderately large” teeth.
Photos show the “dark brown” coloring of the new species. Overall, it looks relatively uniform with a slightly paler belly.
Mekong’s estuary snake eels live in the brackish water where the Mekong River meets the South China Sea. The eels were “common,” found at depths of about 25 to 65 feet and caught with trawling and scoop nets.
A few female eels were found “ripe” with “loose eggs,” suggesting they were ready to spawn, the study said.
Researchers said they named the new species “cuulongensis” after the Vietnamese name “cửu long,” which means “nine dragons” and references the many mouths of the Mekong River where the new species was discovered and, so far, the only place where it has been found.
The new species was identified by its snout shape, body length and proportions, teeth, skeleton and other subtle physical features, the study said. Researchers did not provide a DNA analysis.
The research team included Quang Van Vo, Yusuke Hibino, Hsuan-Ching Ho, Thao Thu Thi Le and Ying Giat Seah. The team also discovered a second new species.
This story was originally published March 17, 2025 at 10:39 AM with the headline "3-foot-long river creature with ‘large’ teeth found in Vietnam. It’s a new species."
