In 2020, a team of cave explorers discovered a unique eyeless fish species in Cisodong 1 Cave, Klapanunggal, Bogor, West Java, which is only an hour drive from Jakarta, a bustling megapolitan.
The team, consisting of Kunto Wibowo, M. Iqbal Willyanto, Anik Budhi Dharmayanthi, Cahyo Rahmadi, and Daniel Natanael Lumbantobing, encountered these fish in shallow pools deep within the challenging vertical cave system.
The fish, which lacked eyes and had skin covering the eye sockets, were later identified as a new species named Barbodes klapanunggalensis, or the Klapanunggal blind cave barb.
The discovery was documented and published in the peer-reviewed journal ZooKeys on February 24, 2025.
The Klapanunggal blind cave barb resembles the silver barb, a common freshwater fish, but is distinguished by its eyeless appearance and other unique morphological traits.
The fish have a silvery-white coloration, a rounded snout, and whisker-like barbels around their mouths.
They inhabit shallow cave pools located 90 to 170 feet below the surface, connected to a seasonal underground river system.
Their behavior includes remaining still in calm water but swimming actively when disturbed, showcasing their adaptation to the cave environment.
Despite its fascinating discovery, the species is already considered threatened due to its limited distribution, small population, and the potential impact of industrial activities in the region.
The researchers named the species after the Klapanunggal district, where it was first found.
Notably, the identification was based on morphological characteristics, as DNA analysis was not conducted.
This discovery highlights the importance of conserving unique and fragile cave ecosystems.
