Gollum discovered living in Kerala—Tolkien’s character becomes the namesake for snake-headed fish

Fantasy is quite the opposite of science, as we perceive. But, sometimes fantasies do come alive, in the future. Years after the release of  J. R. R. Tolkien’s epic high fantasy novel, The Lord of the Rings, science has found something that would excite the fans of the series.

A team of scientists from India and the United Kingdom have identified a new species of fish, which they’ve decided to call Aenigmachanna Gollum (Gollum Snakehead).

Gollum is presented in the series as a creature whose mind has been affected by the ring and the body adapted to living underground. The 9.2 centimetres long fish—which was observed by Malappuram native fish hobbyist Mohammed Ajeer—has been named after the character as scientists believe that it could have modified adapted its features to adapt to underground life.

A. Gollum has been noticed to have long and eel-like body; numerous scales along its body, a very long anal fin running along its belly and tail—features which might help it survive underground.  

Aenigmachanna Gollum is the first species of snakehead to be observed living in subterranean waters. Having discovered multiple subterranean fish from aquifers beneath Kerala, Scientists are discussing the possibilities of the existence of a hidden ecosystem 40 metres below the surface.