The species belongs to genus Apterichtus was discovered off the Colachel coast and has been named after Kanniyakumari.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Researchers from National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR), Kochi functioning underneath Indian Council of Agricultural Research, have found a brand new species of finless snake eel and named it after Kanniyakumari as Apterichtus kanniyakumari. The discovery has been revealed within the newest situation of worldwide peer-reviewed journal, Zootaxa.
The species belonging to the genus Apterichtus was found off the Colachel coast and has been named after Kanniyakumari to honour the district’s cultural, linguistic, historic and geographical significance, stated T. T. Ajith Kumar, Principal Scientist and Head, Regional Centre of NBFGR, Kochi.
He added that the researchers from NBFGR have used two specimens collected from Colachel, the place fishermen have reported catching them at a depth of 100 metres, throughout deep-sea trawling.
Researchers and scientists have performed intensive morphological evaluation, vertebral counts and DNA primarily based molecular evaluation, which confirmed that the eel represents a species which is beforehand unknown to science.
According to the invention revealed in Zootaxa, the brand new species is distinguished from its congeners by the next traits akin to head size 9.6-9.7% of complete size (TL), tail size 1.8-1.9% of TL and physique depth at gill openings 42.1-54.8% of TL. Other options embrace three preopercular and 9 supratemporal pores, conical uniserial tooth on jaws and vomer, distinct golden-yellow physique colouration, ventral facet of head pale white with yellow strains alongside the decrease jaw, and three black blotches together with one behind the eyes adopted by one in rictus and different behind the origin of rictus. The species additionally has a imply vertebral components of 52-131.
In addition, molecular evaluation primarily based on mitochondrial CO1 gene reveals that this new species varieties a definite clade with its sympatric species, Apterichtus nanjilnaduensis.
Mr. Ajith Kumar highlighted species Kanniyakumari because the sixteenth species found from the Indian coast by the NBFGR staff. “Kanniyakuamri has a rich biodiversity that needs to be explored further to strengthen the India’s biodiversity catalogue,” he stated.
He additional added that systematic surveys and taxonomic analysis are essential in unlocking the hidden range and making certain sustainable administration of marine sources. “This discovery underscores the hidden diversity of the Arabian sea, particularly Colachel region, which emphasises the importance of local resources,” Mr. Kumar famous.
Published – September 24, 2025 05:36 pm IST
