Two new snake eel species discovered in Vietnam

Researchers have found two new species of snake eels in the Mekong River, Vietnam. One species has "robust" teeth while the other has "sharp" teeth. This discovery was published in the zoological journal ZooKeys on March 13. The new eels were identified during a study of different snake eel species between 2023 and 2024. They are both nearly 3 feet long and have long, slender bodies. The first species, named Ophichthus cuulongensis, has a dark brown body and moderately large teeth. The second species, Ophichthus nguyenorum, features small, conical teeth arranged in two rows. Ophichthus nguyenorum was named to honor three doctors who contributed to marine fish research in Vietnam. The name Ophichthus cuulongensis refers to the Mekong River's estuary, and "cửu long" translates to "nine dragons" in Vietnamese. Researchers also noted that some female snake eels were found to be carrying eggs. The Ophichthus genus includes over 300 species. In related news, a recent ocean census uncovered over 800 new marine species. A new plant species called "wooly devil" was also found in Big Bend National Park, marking the first new plant genus discovered in a U.S. national park since 1976. As research continues, more species discoveries are expected.