Brief
Primary Menu Sections US News Metro Long Island Politics World News Page Six Sports NFL MLB Olympics NBA NHL College Football College Basketball WNBA Post Sports+ Sports Betting Business Opinion Entertainment TV Movies Music Celebrities Awards Theater Shopping Lifestyle Weird But True Sex & Relationships Viral Trends Human Interest Parenting Fashion & Beauty Food & Drink Travel Health Wellness Fitness Health Care Medicine Men’s Health Women’s Health Mental Health Nutrition Real Estate Alexa Media Tech Science Space Environment Wildlife Archaeology Astrology Video Photos Pod Force One NY POSTcast Today’s Paper Covers Columnists Horoscopes Crosswords & Games Sports Odds Podcasts Careers Email Newsletters Official Store Home Delivery Tips Search Email New York Post Switch between CA and NY editions here. Got it Edition CA NY Open US News navigation US News US News Metro Long Island Politics World News US News Metro Long Island Politics World News Search Search US News Scientists discover new eyeless ‘demon cavefish’ in Alabama cave beneath Army base By Ella Morrison Published Aug. 12, 2026, 10:31 p.m. ET See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The New York Post on Google Researchers were left stunned when they discovered a new “demon cavefish” in a highly-studied cave beneath a US Army post in Alabama. Scientists from the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) uncovered a new genus of cavefish that is eyeless, colorless and faintly electric blue in life, according to a UAH press release from July. The new genus, formally known as Demogorgonichthys arcanus, but aptly dubbed “demon cavefish,” was discovered in Bobcat Cave — under the US Army’s Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville. 5 Researchers discovered the Demogorgonichthys arcanus, commonly known as the “Demon Cavefish” in a highly-studied cave system in Alabama. Jam Press/Matthew L. Niemiller, Niemiller Nature LLC Demogorgonichthys references the mythological underworld figure “Demogorgon” known through the game “Dungeons & Dragons” and the Netflix show “Stranger Things” — while arcanus means “hidden” or “secret,” according to UAH. 5 The newly discovered “demon cavefish” represents an entirely new genus and species. Jam Press/Matthew L. Niemiller, Niemiller Nature LLC Explore More Lindsay Clancy erupts into sobs, yells as medical examiner testifies about autopsy of her daughter Karoline Leavitt’s possible successors emerge after WH press secretary’s surprise departure Owner of suspiciously vacant adult daycare billed Medicaid $32M while donating to Kathy Hochul, other Dems Combined, the scientific name reflects the cryptic species’ underground habitat and decades-long concealment in the cave system. “This is one of the last places we’d have bet on it,” the study’s lead author Dr. Matthew L. Niemiller said. “Finding an entirely unknown, new genus of freshwater fish in eastern North America today is a little like finding a new kind of big cat,” he quipped. “The group is so well known, we thought the big surprises were behind us.” The UAH researchers, as part of the University of Alabama System, published their findings in Scientific Reports in July in collaboration with researchers from three other regional universities. Shockingly, the pool in which the “demon cavefish” was discovered, is home to “Southern Cavefish” — yet the two species are not close relatives. “This is the part I find most remarkable,” Niemiller says, adding that the two species “found its own separate way into the underground world and lost its eyes and pigment independently, millions of years apart.” 5 Bobcat Cave in Alabama is one of the most highly-studied cave systems in the US. Jam Press/Matthew L. Niemiller, Niemiller Nature LLC “It’s a vivid case of convergent evolution,” he said. The Bobcat Cave system has been monitored “at least quarterly” for over 30 years. “To have one turn up in a cave we’ve watched for three decades is a real reminder to stay curious. It was genuinely surprising,” Niemiller added. 5 The “demon cavefish” is less than 2-inches long. Jam Press/Matthew L. Niemiller, Niemiller Nature LLC Redstone-Arsenal has been likened to Alabama’s own “Area 51” due to the secretive and highly secure nature of the Army base that handles critical defense and missile programs as well as classified aerospace projects. As the new “demon cavefish” was only found in a single cave and its connected aquifer beneath the US Army base, researchers believe it is highly vulnerable to changes in hydrology and ground water quality. While the restricted-access military base protects the cave system from “direct disturbance,” the cryptic species remains vulnerable to “threats originating at the surface, including contaminants, sediment and changing water conditions,” according to UAH. Researchers determined the fish’s underground habitat has been contaminated, likely from residue from chemical weapons from the military base. “Trace metals, including cadmium, chromium, and lead, have been detected at elevated concentrations in water samples from Bobcat Cave over the past two decades,” Niemiller’s team wrote in their scientific report . 5 Researchers believe the “demon cavefish’s” habitat has been contaminated by explosive chemicals from the military base. Jam Press/Matthew L. Niemiller, Niemiller Nature LLC Despite the miraculous yet cryptic discovery, Niemiller said his team’s work is far from over. “The ‘Demon Cavefish’ is a reminder that our inventories are far from finished, even in well-explored places,” he said. Filed under alabama army discovery fish military research scientists stranger things university of alabama 8/12/26 Read Next Lindsay Clancy's haunting messages to nurse revealed weeks... Trending Now in US News This story has been shared 118,528 times. 118,528 Lindsay Clancy erupts into sobs, yells as medical examiner testifies about autopsy of her daughter This story has been shared 51,327 times. 51,327 Karoline Leavitt’s possible successors emerge after WH press secretary’s surprise departure This story has been shared 31,485 times. 31,485 Owner of suspiciously vacant adult daycare billed Medicaid $32M while donating to Kathy Hochul, other Dems This story has been shared 26,707 times. 26,707 Nick Reiner indicted for murdering his parents Rob and Michele with disturbing allegation added Most Commented Join the conversation This story has 2.8K comments. 2.8K Far-left Senate hopeful El-Sayed blasts Trump’s marriage to Melania after president’s social media comparison This story has 2.2K comments. 2.2K Trump snuck off Air Force One in catering truck, departed Turkey on secret military flight after Iran threat: report This story has 2K comments. 2K Trump responds to Iran’s outlandish demands to reopen Strait of Hormuz with a new red line Listen Now Now on Page Six Why Patricia Heaton credits her son — and God — for her sobriety: ‘Message received’ Ryan Murphy reveals Jessica Lange’s 1 condition to return for ‘American Horror Story’ Season 13 Roseanne Barr’s son claims sitcom’s cast conspired to take her show from her during social media controversy See All Video Man suffers permanent brain damage after allegedly eating contaminated oysters at steakhouse Now on Decider ‘Dutton Ranch’ Season 2 Showrunner Change: Kelly Reilly And Cole Hauser Address Chad Feehan’s Departure Proud Canadian to American Icon: How Paul Anthony Kelly Became John F. Kennedy Jr. For ‘Love Story’ And Why It Should Grab Him An Emmy Nom Stream It Or Skip It: ‘The Witness’ On Netflix, A Drama About A 1992 Murder Where The Only Witness Was The Victim’s Toddler Son Stream It Or Skip It: ‘The Murder of Rachel Nickell’ on Netflix, a True Crime Documentary That’s a Damning Portrait of the London Police Dept. See All Covers Today's Cover Front Cover Back Cover Flip for back cover Browse Covers Researchers discovered the Demogorgonichthys arcanus, commonly known as the "Demon Cavefish" in a highly-studied cave system in Alabama. Jam Press/Matthew L. Niemiller, Niemiller Nature LLC The newly discovered "demon cavefish" represents an entirely new genus and species. Jam Press/Matthew L. Niemiller, Niemiller Nature LLC Bobcat Cave in Alabama is one of the most highly-studied cave systems in the US. Jam Press/Matthew L. Niemiller, Niemiller Nature LLC The "demon cavefish" is less than 2-inches long. Jam Press/Matthew L. Niemiller, Niemiller Nature LLC Researchers believe the "demon cavefish's" habitat has been contaminated by explosive chemicals from the military base. Jam Press/Matthew L. Niemiller, Niemiller Nature LLC You are viewing 1 of 5 images Previous Image Next Image More Stories Page Six Tom Segura breaks silence on Christina Pazsitzky divorce Decider Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Midwinter Break’ on Netflix, a “Drama-for-Adults” Starring Lesley Manville and Ciarán Hinds NYPost Bill Gates’ daughter Phoebe accused of ‘cookie stuffing’ scheme that has max penalty of 20 years in prison: reports Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Email YouTube TikTok Snapchat Sections & Features US News Metro World News Sports Sports Betting Business Opinion Entertainment Fashion & Beauty Shopping Lifestyle Real Estate Media Tech Science Health Travel Astrology Video Photos Alexa Covers Horoscopes Sports Odds Podcasts Crosswords & Games Columnists Classifieds Post Sports+ Subscribe Articles Manage Newsletters & Store Email Newsletters NY Post Official Store Home Delivery Subscribe Manage Subscription Delivery Help Help/Support About New York Post Editorial Standards New York Post Awards & Recognition Customer Service Apps Help Community Guidelines Contact Us Tips Newsroom Letters to the Editor Licensing & Reprints Careers Vulnerability Disclosure Program Apps iPhone App iPad App Android Phone Android Tablet Advertise Media Kit Contact © 2026 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved Terms of Use Subscription Terms Privacy Notice Sitemap Your California Privacy Rights Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Comments
No comments yet.
Sign in to comment.