Have you ever imagined the breathtaking beauty of the underwater world, where nature reveals a miracle in a single species? Welcome to Belitung Island, home of the endemic Temelayar Kaca (Gymnochanda verae).
This unique ornamental fish has a transparent body with horizontal black stripes, making it truly special. It also lacks scales and is closely related to Gymnochanda filamentosa, which is more common in the Riau region.
In Belitung, this fish is known by several names such as ikan kaca-kaca, ikan kaca or temelayar kaca. It is small, measuring only about 2 to 4 centimeters, but its transparent body allows a clear view of its internal organs.
Interestingly, temelayar kaca exhibits sexual dimorphism, visible in the color of its fins. Males have bright red fin tips, while females have white-tipped fins, adding to the allure of this rare underwater species.
Endemic Glassfish of Belitung
Gymnochanda verae, or temelayar kaca, was first scientifically described by Heok Hui Tan and Kelvin K. P. Lim of the National University of Singapore in 2011. The species name "verae" was chosen in honor of Vera Kasim, who provided invaluable logistical support during the research.
This species is endemic to the freshwater streams of East Belitung Island. Unfortunately, its population is severely threatened by environmental pollution, particularly tin mining waste, which contaminates its natural habitat.
Unprotected Despite Being Endangered
Temelayar kaca (Gymnochanda verae) is a social species that often forms groups or colonies. This grouping behavior, known as shoaling, serves as a defense mechanism against predators. However, while this behavior helps protect them, it also makes them more vulnerable to their predators.
The main predator of this glassfish is the toman fish, whose presence in the Lenggang River, Bangka Belitung Islands has just been discovered in recent years. The combination of social behavior and increased predation pressure has further threatened the survival of the temelayar kaca population.
Unfortunately, the current temelayar kaca population is in a critical state. The IUCN has listed this species as Critically Endangered as of November 2019. The main threat to its conservation is the degradation of water quality due to pollution, particularly from tin mining activities. Despite this, there are still no specific regulations in place to protect this endemic species.
