In Jakarta on Thursday, Kunto Wibowo, a researcher from BRIN's Center for Biosystematics and Evolution Research, noted that the fish species was found inhabiting the Klapanunggal karst area, leading to its scientific naming as Barbodes klapanunggalensis.
He highlighted that this freshwater fish is completely blind, with its eyes degenerated into hollow structures covered by skin.
"Its body lacks black pigments, making it appear silverish-white, while its fins are translucent," Wibowo revealed, noting that the fish’s pectoral and pelvic fins appear to be quite long.
The researcher then explained that these morphological features indicate that this blind fish species has significantly adapted to its dark and isolated habitat in the small ponds of Cisodong 1 Cave, located in the Klapanunggal karst area, which spans approximately 66 square kilometers.
"These ponds are situated on soft clay substrates with clear water. This fish tends to be idle in still water but becomes active when the water is disturbed," he remarked.
Furthermore, he emphasized that despite its isolated habitat, the blind cave fish remains vulnerable to human-made threats, particularly widespread limestone mining activities in the region of its discovery.
With this in mind, he stressed the need for the government to implement a more stringent protection system for the Klapanunggal karst area, highlighting the urgency of expanding the designated conservation area, which currently covers only 9.96 percent of the total area.
With this latest discovery, published in the ZooKeys journal, Indonesia is now home to six endemic blind cave fish species, with Barbodes klapanunggalensis and Barbodes microps found on Java Island. The other four species are endemic to Sulawesi and West Papua.
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Translator: Sean Filo, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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