New Snake Eel Species Discovered in Odisha

June 18, 2024

Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) at the Gopalpur regional center in Odisha have identified a new species of snake eel. This discovery was made across various estuarine ecosystems within the state. The official name for the new species of snake eel is “Ophichthus Suryai.” It was found several times in different places in Odisha last year. The name of this species comes from Surya Kumar Mohanty, who used to be a joint head of the state’s fishery department.

Research and Analysis

Anil Mohapatra, a senior scientist at ZSI, led the study and got at least six examples from well-known places like the Subarnarekha River in Paradip and the Bahuda River near Sunapur. In ZSI’s lab, detailed studies, such as DNA analysis, were carried out to prove that this species is unique.

Distinguishing Features

There are a few ways in which “Ophichthus Suryai” is different from similar species:

The dorsal fin starts just above or slightly in front of the gill opening.
It has a unique number of vertebrae and a unique arrangement of teeth.
On both the maxilla and mandible, the teeth are arranged in multiple rows.

Implications of Discovery

A new species has been identified, which is good for marine wildlife and helps us understand how the ecosystems in Odisha’s estuarine areas work. Learning about these species can help protect and manage marine areas better. This finding not only shows how diverse India’s marine ecosystems are, but it also shows how hard Indian scientists are working to study and protect the oceans.

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