A prehistoric fish species thought to be extinct for decades has been discovered alive in a murky stretch of the Syr Darya river in southern Kazakhstan. The Syr Darya sturgeon, considered one of the smallest sturgeon species, is believed by researchers to have survived despite its species being last seen in the 1960s.
Sturgeons have survived monumental environmental upheavals for 162 million years, but their numbers are now threatened by human activities. The construction of Soviet-era dams and pollution from agriculture and mining have degraded water quality and destroyed natural migration corridors, making it difficult for sturgeon populations to survive.
Researchers Bernie Kuhajda and Dave Neely are leading a mission to find a surviving population of the Syr Darya sturgeon. If they succeed, they plan to capture mature individuals, fertilize their eggs in hatcheries, and rear juveniles for reintroduction.
Kuhajda’s team has found a possible match – a fisherman claimed to have caught a similar fish years ago. The researchers are now combing the silty bottom of the Syr Darya with custom-made nets to search for any remaining populations. For a species that survived 160 million years, its continued existence may now depend on their findings.
The discovery of the Syr Darya sturgeon has sparked hope in conservation efforts. If successful, it could be a crucial step towards saving this ancient species from extinction.
Source: https://dailygalaxy.com/2025/04/they-swam-with-dinosaurs-now-these-jurassic-era-fish-are-dying-out-because-of