back button BACK TO PRESS

New freshwater fish species report reveals a fish called wolverine, a colorful goby and 209 other new species

Freshwater species conservation initiative Shoal, with support from Re:wild, releases report highlighting the incredible diversity of 211 newly described freshwater fish species

For immediate release, March 25, 2022

Scroll to the top

For immediate release
March 14, 2022

Freshwater species conservation initiative Shoal, with support from Re:wild and Synchronicity Earth, published a landmark new report on March 24, outlining the 2011 freshwater fish species described in 2021. The ‘New Species 2021’ report dives into detail on a selection of the species - striped and spotted, soft and spiky, bold and timid - in all their magnificent diversity.

"Every discovery of a new species highlights the unique connections among all living things, enriching our lives and filling us with appreciation for the wealth of biodiversity our Earth supports, Harmony Patricio, conservation program manager at Shoal and freshwater fish conservation program manager at Re:wild, said. "For conservationists, understanding these links between organisms is crucial in helping us prioritize where to act." 

An average of four freshwater fish species were described each week last year, proving there is still much to learn about what lies under the surface of the planet’s rivers, lakes and wetlands. With around one-third of freshwater fish threatened with extinction, it is a race to discover and describe species to give them the best possible chance of survival. 

Each new species deepens researchers' understanding of evolution, informs knowledge of the relations between species, other organisms and their environment, and helps define conservation priorities.

Discoveries can even lead to research that deepens knowledge of human life: Danionella cerebrum, for example, is currently used in neurophysiological research, with ramifications for understanding brain function in humans.

“Two-hundred-and-eleven is a remarkable number of species to be described in just one year, though it is by no means an anomaly," said Mike Baltzer, Shoal’s executive director. "Each year, hundreds of freshwater fish species are described by scientists. New Species 2021 will be the first edition of an annual release of New Species reports from Shoal. We are excited by the opportunity to help tell the species’ stories, and hope we can draw attention to them, and encourage people to act to help save them before it’s too late”.

Other species detailed in the report include:

The Mumbai blind eel Rakthamichthys mumba: discovered, ironically, at the bottom of a well shaft in the grounds of a school for the blind. It is bright red and has no eyes, fins or scales.

The aptly named Wolverine pleco Hopliancistrus wolverine: possesses three stout ‘odontodes’ concealed beneath its gill covers, which it uses defensively to stab anything that threatens it. Researchers report repeatedly bloodied fingers when handling them.

And the fantastically colorful Kijimuna and Bunagaya gobies Lentipes kijimuna and Lentipes bunagaya from Okinawa, Japan. Named after woodland spirits of the island’s folklore.

“This report is a fantastic example of how much we still have to learn about freshwater fish biodiversity," said Brian Zimmerman, director of conservation and science at Bristol Zoological Society in the UK, and co-chair of the IUCN Freshwater Fish Specialist Group, said. "With 211 species newly described in one year, across such an incredibly diverse range of taxa and geographical locations, it brings so much excitement and hope to those who care about the freshwater ecosystems that sustain life on earth.  The variety of habitats, forms and behaviors represented in each of the newly described species offers incredible opportunities for further study and understanding. I am truly inspired by this report and look forward to learning more about the fascinating species it showcases.”

# # #

Photo: The recently described Kijimuna goby, from Okinawa, Japan. Named after a
wood spirit of Okinawan folk mythology. © Ken Maeda

Shoal
Shoal is a global collaborative initiative to halt the extinction and recover populations of the most threatened freshwater species in the wild. Freshwater species are going extinct faster than their marine or terrestrial cousins, and almost one in three of those alive today could soon disappear, never to return. There is an urgent need for determined action, and Shoal is building a strong community of partners that will work together to give critical attention, escalate support, and accelerate and intensify the action that is required to stem the tide of extinction and recover endangered species populations throughout the Earth’s freshwaters.

Shoal is a programme of Synchronicity Earth and Re:wild. Synchronicity Earth is a charity registered in the UK and Wales No: 1132786 and a company limited by guarantee No: 06952204. Re:wild is a U.S.-based 501(c)3 non-profit corporation.

Groundskeeper Resources

The following is a compilation of resources meant to support groundskeepers, sustainability coordinators, students, and/or community members in their efforts to reduce the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Directions: Each resource was assigned tags based on the issues that it addresses. Users are encouraged to hit ‘Ctrl + F’ to search for the respective tags and/or regions of interest. Tags: Alternatives, Basic Overview, Compost, Cost Comparison, Cultural Practices, Design, Disease Control, Emergency Treatment, Fertilizer, Homeowners, Invasive Species, IPM, Irrigation, Lawn Care, Maintenance Schedule, Native Plants, Pest Management, Product Swaps, Schools, Soil, Transition from Synthetic, Turf, WaterRegions: Gulf Coast, Midwest, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, All Regions


NOFA Organic Lawn Care Guide

  • A comprehensive guide to organic lawn care. This guide provides resources on the effects of pesticides, the importance of soil health, the financial implications of going organic, the culture of organic land care, and dealing with specific pests.

  • Tags: Fertilizer, Pest Management, Alternatives, Soil, Turf, Cultural Practices

  • Regions: Northeast, All Regions

8 Steps to a Toxic-Free Lawn

  • This quick fact sheet is a guide to the basic principles of non-toxic lawn care. It highlights different practices and guiding ideas for transitioning these spaces off of synthetic chemicals.

  • Tags: Lawn Care, Alternatives, Soil, Cultural Practices

  • Regions: All Regions

Earth Easy’s Organic Lawn Care Guide

  • This guide provides the basics of caring for an organic lawn. It provides tips for managing pests, routine care, and going organic. Although it’s primarily focused on residential lawns, it also offers a few tips applicable to larger lawns and golf courses.

  • Tags: Lawn Care, Pest Management, Water

  • Regions: All Regions

Ecological Landscaping Tools for Massachusetts Homeowners

  • This guide recognizes that “our traditional lawn and garden care replaces native forests, wetlands, and other wildlife habitats with monocultural landscapes.” It seeks to remedy this by giving ideas and tools for how to make one’s yard fit into the larger ecosystem, conserving water, preserving biodiversity, and saving time. It includes both a design guide and a maintenance guide.

  • Tags: Homeowners, Water, Native Plants, Design, Pest Management

  • Region: Northeast

Florida Friendly Landscaping Guide to Plant Selection and Landscape Design 

  • This guide features eight real design scenarios that highlight what can be done to create healthier, more environmentally sound lawn landscapes. While these designs were created to minimize negative impacts on the landscape, they are not all completely organic. 

  • Tags: Basic Overview, Design, Fertilizer, Homeowners, Native Plants, Pest Management, Water

  • Region: Southeast 

IPM at School: A How-to Manual for New Jersey Schools

  • A guide from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Pesticide Control Program for school district superintendents, local school boards, principals, IPM coordinators and other administrators for implementing an IPM program. It was created in response to the School IPM Act, which mandated that schools have an IPM program. This manual outlines day-to-day and site-specific issues including how to handle certain pests.

  • Other Supporting Docs: https://www.nj.gov/dep/enforcement/pcp/bpc/ipm/low_impact.pdf 

  • Tags: IPM, Schools, Pest Management

  • Region: Northeast

Least-Toxic Control of Pests: Lawns/ Landscapes/ Gardens

  • This is a database of more than thirty different potential pests in lawns, landscapes, and gardens and a resource for evaluating various types of pests, including invasive plant species.

  • Tags: Pest Management, Alternatives

  • Regions: All Regions

Least Toxic Control of Weeds - Beyond Pesticides

  • General information on weed prevention, management, and solutions. This guide provides alternatives to toxic pesticides.

  • Tags: Product Swaps, Alternatives

  • Regions: All Regions

Mom’s Across America Guide to RoundUp Alternatives

  • Provides the everyday person with easy and safe RoundUp/glyphosate alternatives.

  • Tags: Product Swaps

  • Regions: All Regions

North Carolina Extension’s Organic Lawn Care Guide

  • This guide describes how to establish a new lawn and maintain it organically and how to transition an existing lawn into an organic lawn. It relies on IPM principles and highlights organic solutions to pests and weeds common to North Carolina. 

  • Tags: Turf, Pest Management, Disease Control 

  • Region: South East (North Carolina)

Ohio State University Extension’s Organic Lawn Care Guide 

  • This guide is on how to evaluate the health of one’s lawn as well as how to manage the lawn in an organic way.

  • Tags: Fertilizer, Transition from Synthetic, Irrigation, Pest Management, Maintenance Schedule  

  • Region: Midwest (Ohio)

Organic Landcare Best Management Practices Manual

  • An in-depth guide to transitioning your land to organic management. It provides information and resources on the initial assessment of the soil, wildlife, pests, and irrigation.

  • Tags: Soil, Turf, Pest Management, Water, Native Plants, Invasive Species, Emergency Treatment

  • Region: Northeast 

Organic Land Care Project (Rutgers University) 

  • New Jersey based guide to organic lawn care. This guide is for landscaping managers and landscape contractors on “best management practices for effectively conducting organic land care.”

  • Tags: Alternatives, Basic Overview, Compost, Disease Control, Invasive Species, Lawn Care, Native Plants, Pest Management, Product Swaps, Soil, Transition from Synthetic, Turf, Water

  • Region: Northeast, All Regions

The Common Sense Gardening Guide to Natural Lawn Care

  • This Common Sense Gardening Guide offers practical advice for maintaining an attractive and healthy lawn “the natural way,” while reducing the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, and water.

  • Tags: Alternatives, Lawn Care

  • Region: Northwest

Turf Comparison Report

  • This report offers a comparison of the cost of managing conventional turf versus natural turf. Based on mid-level turf management programs, this study found that natural (organic) turf management can lead to a 25% increase in savings compared to conventional management. 

  • Tags: Cost Comparison

  • Regions: All Regions

Turf Management Mobile

  • A website that provides recommendations for treatments depending on the turf disease, turf weeds, and/or turf pests.

  • Tags: Product Swaps

  • Region: Midwest, All Regions

University of Wisconsin’s Organic and Reduced-Risk Lawn Care Guide 

  • This guide is meant for Wisconsin homeowners who aim to have a completely organic or “reduced-risk” lawn, meaning they utilize the ‘safest’ pesticides on the market in minimal amounts. It provides soil testing resources and how to understand the soil test results. 

  • Tags: Basic Overview, Compost, Pest Management,

  • Region: Midwest

Groundskeeper Resources

The following is a compilation of resources meant to support groundskeepers, sustainability coordinators, students, and/or community members in their efforts to reduce the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Directions: Each resource was assigned tags based on the issues that it addresses. Users are encouraged to hit ‘Ctrl + F’ to search for the respective tags and/or regions of interest. Tags: Alternatives, Basic Overview, Compost, Cost Comparison, Cultural Practices, Design, Disease Control, Emergency Treatment, Fertilizer, Homeowners, Invasive Species, IPM, Irrigation, Lawn Care, Maintenance Schedule, Native Plants, Pest Management, Product Swaps, Schools, Soil, Transition from Synthetic, Turf, WaterRegions: Gulf Coast, Midwest, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, All Regions


NOFA Organic Lawn Care Guide

  • A comprehensive guide to organic lawn care. This guide provides resources on the effects of pesticides, the importance of soil health, the financial implications of going organic, the culture of organic land care, and dealing with specific pests.

  • Tags: Fertilizer, Pest Management, Alternatives, Soil, Turf, Cultural Practices

  • Regions: Northeast, All Regions

8 Steps to a Toxic-Free Lawn

  • This quick fact sheet is a guide to the basic principles of non-toxic lawn care. It highlights different practices and guiding ideas for transitioning these spaces off of synthetic chemicals.

  • Tags: Lawn Care, Alternatives, Soil, Cultural Practices

  • Regions: All Regions

Earth Easy’s Organic Lawn Care Guide

  • This guide provides the basics of caring for an organic lawn. It provides tips for managing pests, routine care, and going organic. Although it’s primarily focused on residential lawns, it also offers a few tips applicable to larger lawns and golf courses.

  • Tags: Lawn Care, Pest Management, Water

  • Regions: All Regions

Ecological Landscaping Tools for Massachusetts Homeowners

  • This guide recognizes that “our traditional lawn and garden care replaces native forests, wetlands, and other wildlife habitats with monocultural landscapes.” It seeks to remedy this by giving ideas and tools for how to make one’s yard fit into the larger ecosystem, conserving water, preserving biodiversity, and saving time. It includes both a design guide and a maintenance guide.

  • Tags: Homeowners, Water, Native Plants, Design, Pest Management

  • Region: Northeast

Florida Friendly Landscaping Guide to Plant Selection and Landscape Design 

  • This guide features eight real design scenarios that highlight what can be done to create healthier, more environmentally sound lawn landscapes. While these designs were created to minimize negative impacts on the landscape, they are not all completely organic. 

  • Tags: Basic Overview, Design, Fertilizer, Homeowners, Native Plants, Pest Management, Water

  • Region: Southeast 

IPM at School: A How-to Manual for New Jersey Schools

  • A guide from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Pesticide Control Program for school district superintendents, local school boards, principals, IPM coordinators and other administrators for implementing an IPM program. It was created in response to the School IPM Act, which mandated that schools have an IPM program. This manual outlines day-to-day and site-specific issues including how to handle certain pests.

  • Other Supporting Docs: https://www.nj.gov/dep/enforcement/pcp/bpc/ipm/low_impact.pdf 

  • Tags: IPM, Schools, Pest Management

  • Region: Northeast

Least-Toxic Control of Pests: Lawns/ Landscapes/ Gardens

  • This is a database of more than thirty different potential pests in lawns, landscapes, and gardens and a resource for evaluating various types of pests, including invasive plant species.

  • Tags: Pest Management, Alternatives

  • Regions: All Regions

Least Toxic Control of Weeds - Beyond Pesticides

  • General information on weed prevention, management, and solutions. This guide provides alternatives to toxic pesticides.

  • Tags: Product Swaps, Alternatives

  • Regions: All Regions

Mom’s Across America Guide to RoundUp Alternatives

  • Provides the everyday person with easy and safe RoundUp/glyphosate alternatives.

  • Tags: Product Swaps

  • Regions: All Regions

North Carolina Extension’s Organic Lawn Care Guide

  • This guide describes how to establish a new lawn and maintain it organically and how to transition an existing lawn into an organic lawn. It relies on IPM principles and highlights organic solutions to pests and weeds common to North Carolina. 

  • Tags: Turf, Pest Management, Disease Control 

  • Region: South East (North Carolina)

Ohio State University Extension’s Organic Lawn Care Guide 

  • This guide is on how to evaluate the health of one’s lawn as well as how to manage the lawn in an organic way.

  • Tags: Fertilizer, Transition from Synthetic, Irrigation, Pest Management, Maintenance Schedule  

  • Region: Midwest (Ohio)

Organic Landcare Best Management Practices Manual

  • An in-depth guide to transitioning your land to organic management. It provides information and resources on the initial assessment of the soil, wildlife, pests, and irrigation.

  • Tags: Soil, Turf, Pest Management, Water, Native Plants, Invasive Species, Emergency Treatment

  • Region: Northeast 

Organic Land Care Project (Rutgers University) 

  • New Jersey based guide to organic lawn care. This guide is for landscaping managers and landscape contractors on “best management practices for effectively conducting organic land care.”

  • Tags: Alternatives, Basic Overview, Compost, Disease Control, Invasive Species, Lawn Care, Native Plants, Pest Management, Product Swaps, Soil, Transition from Synthetic, Turf, Water

  • Region: Northeast, All Regions

The Common Sense Gardening Guide to Natural Lawn Care

  • This Common Sense Gardening Guide offers practical advice for maintaining an attractive and healthy lawn “the natural way,” while reducing the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, and water.

  • Tags: Alternatives, Lawn Care

  • Region: Northwest

Turf Comparison Report

  • This report offers a comparison of the cost of managing conventional turf versus natural turf. Based on mid-level turf management programs, this study found that natural (organic) turf management can lead to a 25% increase in savings compared to conventional management. 

  • Tags: Cost Comparison

  • Regions: All Regions

Turf Management Mobile

  • A website that provides recommendations for treatments depending on the turf disease, turf weeds, and/or turf pests.

  • Tags: Product Swaps

  • Region: Midwest, All Regions

University of Wisconsin’s Organic and Reduced-Risk Lawn Care Guide 

  • This guide is meant for Wisconsin homeowners who aim to have a completely organic or “reduced-risk” lawn, meaning they utilize the ‘safest’ pesticides on the market in minimal amounts. It provides soil testing resources and how to understand the soil test results. 

  • Tags: Basic Overview, Compost, Pest Management,

  • Region: Midwest

Re:wild Your Campus Advisory Board

John Aspray/ Iowa Organizer / Food & Water Watch

Anna Lappé / Founder and Director / Real Food Media

Liz Boner / Educator and Movement Builder / UC Berkeley

Bill Richardson / Deputy Executive Director / Greenpeace

Kathryn Gilje / Executive Director / Ceres Trust

Gesina Beckert  / Director of Research and Operations / Food for Climate League 

Danner Doud-Martin / Associate Director / International Business Development at Berkeley Haas School of Business

Michael Baum / Senior Managing Partner / Baum, Hedlund, Aristei & Goldman, PC

Chip Osborne/ President / Osborne Organics

Anim Steele / Director / Hau'oli Mau Loa Foundation

Madeline Carretero / Major Gifts Development Officer / Greenpeace

Philip Stark / Professor of Statistics / University of California, Berkeley

Navgeet King Zed/ Cofounder and Advisor / CAPA Strategies

Melanie Feldman / Cofounder / Going Places

Dewayne "Lee" Johnson / Plaintiff in Johnson v. Monsanto trial 

Shannon Britton / Grounds and Landscaping Manager / Seattle University

Philip Ackerman- Leist / Executive Director / Regen by Design

Annie Lu / Experience Innovation Consultant / Adobe

Daphne Miller / Family Physician and Clinical Professor / LifeLong Medical Care 

Scroll to the top

Related News and Other Stories

This is what Ecuador’s resistance looks like

By Lindsay Renick Mayer on March 23, 2022

This is what Ecuador’s resistance looks like

READ MORE
There’s no shortage of wild and wonderful in Ecuador’s Intag Valley

By Milo Putnam on March 23, 2022

There’s no shortage of wild and wonderful in Ecuador’s Intag Valley

READ MORE