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Miami Herald
6 days ago
- General
- Miami Herald
2-foot-long ocean predator with ‘blade-like' teeth discovered as a new species
Off the southern coast of India, shrimp trawlers hauled in their nets and realized they'd accidentally caught a 2-foot-long deep-sea predator. They took it to port and gave it to scientists — and for good reason. It turned out to be a new species. A team of researchers visited a fishing harbor in Kerala several times in 2023 to survey the hauls brought in by shrimp trawlers. Their focus wasn't shrimp, though; their focus was the other accidental catches, according to a study published May 25 in the peer-reviewed Indian Journal of Fisheries. During their visits, researchers collected a few 'dusky' sharks from the trawlers, the study said. Intrigued, they took a closer look at these sharks, analyzed their DNA and realized they'd discovered a new species: Iago gopalakrishnani, or the Indian houndshark. Indian houndsharks are considered 'small,' reaching up to 35 inches in length, the study said. They have 'slender' bodies and rough-textured skins. Their 'short' heads have a 'pointed' snout, 'large' oval eyes and 'arched' mouths with 'sharp and blade-like' teeth. Photos show the coloring of the new species, which varies between males and females. Male sharks have a darker hue and look 'blackish to dark brown' when freshly caught, researchers said. Females have a lighter hue and look 'dark chocolate brown to blackish brown.' Much about the lifestyle of Indian houndsharks remains unknown. Shrimp trawlers caught these deep-sea sharks between depths of about 1,000 to 1,300 feet, the study said. 'This species is abundant in the fishery bycatch in the south-west coast of India and forms a minor fishery.' Researchers said they named the new species after the late A. Gopalakrishnan, an 'eminent marine fish geneticist,' because of 'his valuable contributions to fish conservation, sustainable management of Indian fisheries and his support' for the study co-authors. So far, Indian houndsharks have been found in the Arabian Sea off the southwestern coast of India, the study said. The new species was identified by its body proportions, coloring, gills, fin shape, mouth shape and other subtle physical features, the study said. DNA analysis found the new species had at least 4% genetic divergence from related species. The research team included K. K. Bineesh, Sweta Beura, Moumita Das, M. Nashad and K. V. Akhilesh.
New Indian Express
06-05-2025
- Science
- New Indian Express
Four-year-old Dhanvi from Kozhikode helps discover subterranean eel loach
KOZHIKODE: In a remarkable blend of childhood curiosity and scientific curiosity, a four-year-old girl has become the unlikely face behind the discovery of a new subterranean fish species from Kerala. Dhanvi Dheera, fondly called Juhu, first noticed the unusual fish while playing with water collected from a well in their house during a visit to Naduvannur in Kozhikode district. Her observation prompted her mother Aswani Lalu to investigate further, which eventually led to a groundbreaking scientific revelation. Aswani, who used to draw water from a dugout perennial well owned by Malol Karthiayani Amma, noticed the tiny eel-like fish and informed local experts. The well, situated at an elevation of 150 m above sea level, receives continuous underground water flow from the hilly terrains of Vallora Mala and drains through a natural subterranean channel, making it an ideal habitat for rare aquatic life. Responding to the find, a scientific team led by Dr K R Sreenath, Director General of the Fisheries Survey of India, and Dr B Pradeep of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kozhikode, collected specimens. Detailed morpho-meristic and genetic analysis confirmed that the fish represented an entirely new species. The eel loach was officially named Pangio Juhuae, in honour of little Juhu who first spotted it. Their research was published in the Indian Journal of Fisheries, under the title 'Discovery of a new species of troglobitic eel loach from Southern India'. The study was co-authored by scientists Dr K R Aju, Dr Sandhya Sukumaran, Dr Wilson Sebastian, Dr Alvin Anto and Dr Grinson George. This marks the third discovery of a subterranean eel loach species in Kerala in recent years. Pangio Bhujia was first identified in 2019 from Cherinjal in Kozhikode, followed by Pangio Pathala from Tiruvalla in Pathanamthitta district in 2022. However, Pangio Juhuae stands apart with its distinct dorsal fin and more pronounced eyes, suggesting it has retained more surface-dwelling traits than its cousins.
Hindustan Times
23-04-2025
- Science
- Hindustan Times
ICAR-NBFGR discovers two new species of Rohu
Lucknow's ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR) has discovered two new species of Rohu from the rivers of western ghats. With the discovery, they claimed to have resolved the 150-year-old identity when the two new species were confused as Labeo nigrescens (Rohu). The institute said that the discovery and the associated study was recently published in the Indian Journal of Fisheries as well. 'The ICAR–NBFGR has discovered two new freshwater fish species—Labeo uru and Labeo chekida from the rivers of the Western Ghats,' said the central institute's director, Kajal Chakraborty. 'With the discovery, the institute's scientists from the unit in Western region successfully resolved the 150-year-old identity mystery of Labeo nigrescens, first described in 1870.' The director further explained that Labeo uru, discovered in the Chandragiri River, is named for its sail-like dorsal fin, while Labeo chekida, a small dark-bodied fish from the Chalakkudy River, is locally known as 'kaka chekida.' 'The study also confirmed the distinct identity of L nigrescens based on unique morphological traits. This discovery highlights the rich, undocumented biodiversity of the Western Ghats and emphasised the need for continued scientific exploration and conservation,' said the institute in a press note.
Miami Herald
16-04-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
4-year-old sees ‘translucent' creature in water tank — and discovers new species
In a village of southwestern India, a child peered into a water tank and noticed a 'translucent' creature with visible bones. She didn't know it at the time, but she'd just discovered a new species. Scientists visited Naduvannur village in December 2021 to survey local aquatic life. The village was part of a 'potential hotspot for subterranean fish diversity,' and 'a four-year-old girl, Juhu,' had noticed some interesting fish in a 'water tank filled with water drawn from a (local) dug-out well,' according to a study published April 11 in the peer-reviewed Indian Journal of Fisheries. Researchers checked the well and found several unfamiliar-looking fish inside, the study said. They took a closer look at the animals and quickly realized they'd discovered a new species: Pangio juhuae, or Juhu's pigmy eel-loach. Juhu's pigmy eel-loaches have 'thin, slender' bodies reaching less than 1.5 inches in length, the study said. Their 'small' heads have tiny eyes that look like 'small black specks.' A photo shows the 'translucent' new species, which is 'devoid of melanin.' Its skeleton is visible, running along the top half of its body. Its belly looks reddish from its 'internal organs and blood vessels.' Juhu's pigmy eel-loaches live underground, but much about its lifestyle remains unknown, the study said. Compared to other underground-dwelling fish, the new species has 'intermediate' adaptations, such as more prominent eyes and fins, the study said. Researchers suspect it 'might still be in the process of evolving towards a fully (underground) life.' 'Further research into this loach has the potential to shed light on broader evolutionary patterns and the remarkable biodiversity thriving in the hidden world beneath our feet,' researchers said. So far, Juhu's pigmy eel-loaches have only been found at Naduvannur, a village in the southwestern state of Kerala and a roughly 1,450-mile drive southwest from New Delhi, the study said. The new species was identified by its fins, eye size, lack of pigmentation, body shape, skeleton and other subtle physical features, the study said. DNA analysis found the new species had at least 1.5% genetic divergence from other related fish species. The research team included K. R. Sreenath, B. Pradeep, K. R. Aju, Sandhya Sukumaran, Wilson Sebastian, Alvin Anto and Grinson George.
