They are about 2.5 inches long, according to the study. The new species was named for the valley where it was found, an important area for early Christian missionaries in Peru, according to the study.

The valley is near the city of Huánuco in central Peru, about 220 miles northeast from Lima. The research team includes Vanessa Meza-Vargas, Jorge L. Ramirez and Nathan K. Lujan. Read Next ...

In central Peru, the Andes mountains carve the landscape and direct rivers through the towering peaks. More than 1,000 feet above sea level, one fish navigates the winding rivers of the Pampa de ...