Tiaoxilie, also known as Zacco tiaoxiensis. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

A new fish species, Tiaoxilie or Zacco tiaoxiensis, has recently been discovered in the Tiaoxi River, the mother river of Yuhang district, Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province. It is rare to discover new species in such a large urban area.

Nicknamed "peach blossom fish" by locals, it is grey with yellow-orange dots or stripes on its back and turns into a brighter color during reproductive season.

The species belongs to the Chelsia genus of the Cyprinidae family and is found in clear and shallow streams with gentle currents and small pebbles or gravel substrates. Zacco tiaoxiensis has only been found in the Tiaoxi Creek basin, which spans Hangzhou's Yuhang district and Huzhou's Deqing county.

This discovery is a significant milestone in Yuhang's wildlife survey efforts and is the first species to be named after the Tiaoxi River.

The Tiaoxi River is one of the eight major water systems in the Zhejiang province and serves as the primary source of water for Taihu Lake. It derives its name from the reeds growing along the river, called "camps (苕tiáo in Chinese)", and the numerous camps on the banks of the river that flutter every day in autumn. The watershed covers the eastern part of Lin'an district and Yuhang district in Hangzhou, as well as Deqing, Anji, and Changxing counties in Huzhou.

In the two watersheds in Yuhang district, the Tiaoxi River and the Grand Canal, over 80 species of fish have been discovered. The number of fish species is expected to increase further in subsequent surveys.