File photo

 

A freshwater fish species, long thought extinct for 94 years, has been rediscovered in Thailand, according to the nature group Siamensis.org. The elusive pla bu sua (Brachygobius sua) was spotted by 18-year-old Kaweewat Kaosasiwattanapong in a canal linked to the Mae Klong River. He noticed distinctive markings on the fish and sought verification by sharing photos on Siamensis.org.

 

The site's administrator identified the pattern as possibly belonging to B. sua. This species was initially described in 1931 by American ichthyologist Hugh M. Smith. Further verification came through a second specimen, collected along with a regular pla bu (B. sabanus) for comparison purposes. Expert Helen Larson confirmed the fish's identity, marking the rediscovery as a "historic" event.

 

Originally named Thaigobiella sua by Smith in Bangkok in 1931, the fish sample was sent to the Smithsonian but was ultimately lost. This left only Smith's illustrations and descriptions, which he later admitted had some errors in fin-ray counts. Additionally, confusion arose in 1938 when a fish found in Malaysia was mistaken for B. sua, leading to the species being synonymous with Brachygobius xanthozona, reported the Bangkok Post.

 

The rediscovery ends decades of confusion and misidentification. It presents a rare opportunity to document the species accurately for the first time in nearly a century. Experts are now focused on studying the rediscovered fish to update scientific records and conservation status.

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Brachygobius sua rediscovered in a Thai canal after 94 years.
• Initially described in 1931 by Hugh M Smith, with the original sample lost.
• Verification by Helen Larson marks a rare "historic" scientific event.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-11-24

 

 

 

I hope he released it.

Amongst all the world's craziness and the trolling on AN it's good to read this story.  Thanks AN.

Very cool. 

Finger food 

Good ol' boy, if that had been my wife who caught it, it would be drying in our back garden for that night's tea.

Also proves, not all the Klongs in Bangkok are just dead polluted water.