A team of researchers has identified a previously unknown species of killifish in the Brazilian Amazon, distinguished by its vivid orange hue. The fish lives in a network of forest streams, and so far that is the only place it has been found.
Because the habitat is under pressure, the researchers have already recommended the species be listed as Endangered. The recommendation comes even as the formal description of the species is being finalized, highlighting how quickly human activity can imperil newly discovered life.
The study underscores a common pattern in tropical biodiversity: new species are often found in small, fragile habitats that are already degraded or threatened. In this case, the killifish's restricted range makes it especially vulnerable to any environmental change.