According to Zhang Haixin, a senior aquaculture expert from the  Jiangxi Provincial Institute of Fisheries Science, DNA comparison revealed that the genetic distance between this species and its closest known relative is 4.2%, far exceeding the level of genetic differentiation observed among most known species within the same taxonomic group, indicating that it is indeed a new species. The research team has named this species Niwaella tigrina, and the related research paper was published on January 31st in Zootaxa, a prestigious international journal for zoological taxonomists.

Zhang Haixin stated that Niwaella tigrina primarily inhabits fast-flowing mountain streams with clear water and sandy-gravel bottoms, suggesting it requires a specific environmental conditions. This discovery is significant for enhancing the understanding of aquatic biosystem and its aquatic biodiversity in Jiangxi province. It also serves as evidence of initial successes in protecting the aquatic ecological environment and species diversity in Jiangxi's waters.