What is the Chell snakehead fish and why is its rediscovery significant?

The Chell snakehead is a beautiful fish found in the Himalayas, characterized by yellow stripes and a fluorescent patch under its eyes. It was last documented by scientists in 1933 and presumed extinct for decades until researchers from the Thackeray Wildlife Foundation in Mumbai confirmed its existence after learning local tribes had been catching and eating them continuously. This rediscovery classifies the Chell snakehead as a 'Lazarus species' - organisms that reappear after being presumed extinct. The case illustrates that some species continue thriving undetected despite scientific assumptions about their extinction, highlighting both the effectiveness of conservation efforts and the limitations of human knowledge about biodiversity.