BRIN Finds New Blind Cave Fish Species From West Java

Barbodes klapanunggalensis, a new blind fish species discovered/ANTARA/HO-BRIN

National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) together with Indonesian collaborators

Specelological Society (ISS) and the Species Obscura Indonesia Foundation managed to find a new blind cave fish species from the Klapanunggal karst area, Bogor Regency, West Java.

Researcher at the Center for Biosystematics Research and Evolution of BRIN Kunto Wibowo explained, this fish named Barbodes klapanunggalensis has very unique and different characteristics from other cave fish species.

This fish is completely blind, with eyes that have been reduced and leave only marks in the form of orbital basins covered in the skin.

"The smell does not have a black pigment (melanofor), so it looks white-yed with transparent fins," explained Kunto in Jakarta, Antara, Thursday, February 27.

In addition, Kunto explained that this fish has relatively long chest and stomach fins, as well as axial scales located behind short belly fins with round ends.

He said the species had shown highly adapted morphological character in dark and isolated cave habitats.

According to Kunto, this fish lives in small ponds in a cave flowed by seeps of water from the cave floor.

"These pools have fine clay substrates and clear water. These fish tend to remain silent in calm water, but will actively swim when the water is disturbed," he said.

Kunto mengungkapkan Barbodes klapanunggalensis saat ini hanya diketahui hidup di Gua Cisodong 1, yang terletak di kawasan karst Klapanunggal yang memiliki luas sekitar 66 km2. Namun, hanya 9,96 persen yang dilindungi oleh pemerintah Indonesia dalam bentuk Kawasan Bentang Alam Karst Bogor.

According to him, although this cave is difficult to access and far from residential areas, the threat to fish habitat still exists, especially from limestone mining activities that are rife in the area.

Penemuan ini telah dipublikasikan dalam jurnal ZooKeys (https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/135950/) pada edisi terbaru. Studi lebih lanjut masih diperlukan untuk memahami ekologi dan strategi konservasi yang tepat bagi Barbodes klapanunggalensis serta spesies ikan gua lainnya di Indonesia.

The discovery of Barbodes klapanunggalensis adds to the long list of Indonesia's biodiversity, especially in the cave ecosystem. Currently, Indonesia has six endemic cave species, with Barbodes klapanunggalensis and Barbodes microps as species found in Java. Other species were found in the karst area of Sulawesi and West Papua.

The existence of a single cave-limited clumpanggalensis Barbodes makes it vulnerable to environmental changes. Uncontrolled limestone mining activities can threaten its habitat. Therefore, the research team suggested that the Klapanunggal karst area get stricter protection, especially by expanding the existing conservation area.

In addition, further research is needed to understand the population and ecology of this species, as well as efforts to involve local communities in conservation efforts. Thus, Barbodes klapanunggalensis can continue to survive as part of Indonesia's natural wealth.