New Species With 'Robust Teeth' Found in Vietnam River

Two new snake eel species discovered in Vietnamese waters, one with "robust" teeth and one with "sharp" teeth, were detailed in a research article published in the zoological journal ZooKeys on March 13.

Newsweek reached out to the study's corresponding author by email for comment.

Why It Matters

Thousands of new species are discovered each year. Of these discoveries, some species are already extinct and found by examining fossils. Others are endangered, and some are prolific.

The new snake eels were discovered when scientists surveyed different species of snake eels in Mekong River estuary waters in Vietnam between 2023 and 2024.

What to Know

The two new species, named Ophichthus cuulongensis and Ophichthus nguyenorum, are described as having "extremely elongate" bodies. The eels measured nearly 3 feet in length.

Ophichthus cuulongensis was described as having an "extremely elongated" dark brown body with numerous wrinkles. Its teeth were "moderately large."

The snake eels are "common in the waters" where they were caught in the Mekong River.

Ophichthus nguyenorum had "small, conical, sharp" teeth, with the teeth arranged in two rows. It also neared 3 feet long but was slightly shorter than Ophichthus cuulongensis.

Ophichthus nguyenorum was named to "honor three doctors with the last name Nguyen: Dr. Phung Huu Nguyen, Huong Khac Nguyen, and Thi Nhat Nguyen for their contributions to marine fish taxonomy in Viet Nam," the report said. Ophichthus cuulongensis was "derived from the Mekong River's estuary."

"In Vietnamese, the name "cửu long" means nine dragons, which is the dragon's mouth that waters flow from to the southern sea of Viet Nam," the report said.

Researchers discovered some female snake eels that were "ripe" with eggs. The Ophichthus genus has more than 300 species.

Recent New Species Discovered

Earlier this week, more than 800 new marine species were discovered as part of an ocean census.

An entirely new plant species, known as a "wooly devil," was recently discovered in Big Bend National Park in Texas. This is the first new plant genus and species to have been discovered in a U.S. national park since 1976, according to the California Academy of Sciences.

In December, a report detailing the discovery of a new reptile-like creature with an unusual jaw that lived more than 200 million was published in a paleontology journal.

What People Are Saying

The ZooKeys report, while describing Ophichthus cuulongensis, said: "The teeth are large and robust to fat."

The report, while describing Ophichthus nguyenorum, said the snake eel "is different from most congeners belonging to the species group with elongate and extremely elongate bodies."

What Happens Next

As research continues worldwide, more new species are bound to be discovered this year.