The enigmatic Romanian darter (Romanichthys valsanicola), the rarest fish in Europe, has been found in Romania, in the Făgăraș mountains.
A record number of 58 fish were found in the Vâlsan River. It is the only place in the world where this species, considered to be a living fossil and, by some estimates, contemporary with the last dinosaurs, still survives. From 10-16 October 2022, the most extensive inventory of the species has been carried out since its discovery in 1956 (when it was also found in the Argeș and Doamnei rivers) until today.
The team included 9 biologists and carried out no less than 21 scientific fishing stations in the Vâlsan River (previously a maximum of 8 stations per session), 14 of which were able to identify the fish. The Romanian darter inventory operation was made possible with the support of the MBZ Species Conservation Fund. It is part of the “Aspretele Trăiește” (The Romanian darter lives), a broad project to save the species from extinction and to conserve it, initiated by climber Alex Gavan.
Not since the mid-1960s have so many fish been identified, the highest number so far being 12, found in the early 2000s. There have also been years when it was thought to be completely extinct. According to the latest official estimates from the Ministry of the Environment, the population is thought to number between 10 and 15.
Translated with http://www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
I kinda feel that 58 fish is not really a “living” kind of statement.
[deleted]
Interesting. I would have guessed Moldova.
Insert surprised Pikatchu face
The people who name things got lucky on that one.
Romanian darter, the romanianest fish in Europe, lives in Romania
9 comments
Surprise surprise
Translation:
The enigmatic Romanian darter (Romanichthys valsanicola), the rarest fish in Europe, has been found in Romania, in the Făgăraș mountains.
A record number of 58 fish were found in the Vâlsan River. It is the only place in the world where this species, considered to be a living fossil and, by some estimates, contemporary with the last dinosaurs, still survives. From 10-16 October 2022, the most extensive inventory of the species has been carried out since its discovery in 1956 (when it was also found in the Argeș and Doamnei rivers) until today.
The team included 9 biologists and carried out no less than 21 scientific fishing stations in the Vâlsan River (previously a maximum of 8 stations per session), 14 of which were able to identify the fish. The Romanian darter inventory operation was made possible with the support of the MBZ Species Conservation Fund. It is part of the “Aspretele Trăiește” (The Romanian darter lives), a broad project to save the species from extinction and to conserve it, initiated by climber Alex Gavan.
Not since the mid-1960s have so many fish been identified, the highest number so far being 12, found in the early 2000s. There have also been years when it was thought to be completely extinct. According to the latest official estimates from the Ministry of the Environment, the population is thought to number between 10 and 15.
Translated with http://www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
I kinda feel that 58 fish is not really a “living” kind of statement.
[deleted]
Interesting. I would have guessed Moldova.
Insert surprised Pikatchu face
The people who name things got lucky on that one.
Romanian darter, the romanianest fish in Europe, lives in Romania
Well duh…it’s in the name