Lessons from a threatened catfish: the need for more resources to support biodiversity research in the Global South

The Carmelitano catfish, Heptapterus carmelitanorum, is a freshwater species that occurs in southeastern Brazil. The need to evaluate the extinction risk of the species motivated new sampling efforts in different watercourses of the country. In addition to evaluating the extinction risk of the Carmelitano catfish, we collected several undescribed species; some of them were recently named. This experience allowed us to reflect on and question the situation in the Global South. Countries of this sociopolitical group, which are rich in biodiversity, but are yet relatively underfunded in terms of research investment (compared to countries in the Global North), must now be rapidly inventoried before dark extinctions occur. We highlight the urgent need for nations worldwide to invest more (including through philanthropic initiatives) in biodiversity research in the Global South.