In a recent development, the Estuarine Biology Regional Centre (EBRC) of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has announced the discovery of two new species of Marine Eels. These discoveries not only add to the diversity of marine life in Indian waters but also enhance our knowledge of marine biodiversity.
The New Discoveries: A Glance at The Two New Eel Species
Among the two discovered species, the first one is a short brown un-patterned Moray Eel, scientifically referred to as Gymnothorax andamanensesis. This newly found species makes its home near the south Andaman coast. Indeed, the world so far has ten known species of short brown un-patterned moray eels, and remarkably, two of these have been discovered in Indian waters.
The other addition to the list of marine eel species is a new white-spotted Moray Eel, named Gymnothorax smithi.
Moray Eels: Inhabitants of Tropical and Subtropical Seas
Moray Eels are generally found in all tropical and subtropical seas. They prefer habitats in shallow water among reefs and rocks. One of their striking features is the possession of two types of jaws. One is the regular (oral) jaw equipped with big teeth, while the second is the pharyngeal jaw, which drags prey into the eel’s stomach. As per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the conservation status of Moray Eels is classified as “Least Concern”.
In terms of marine biodiversity, the discovery of these two new eel species is seen as a significant step.
| Eel Species | Characteristics | Location Found |
|---|---|---|
| Gymnothorax andamanensesis | Short brown unpatterned Moray Eel | South Andaman Coast |
| Gymnothorax smithi | White-spotted Moray Eel | Indian Waters |
About Zoological Survey of India
The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) is a subsidiary of the Ministry of Environment and Forests. It was set up in 1916, with its headquarters stationed at Kolkata and 16 regional stations scattered across different geographic locations of the country. ZSI serves as a national center for faunistic survey and exploration, contributing significantly to advancing knowledge about the rich faunal diversity of the country. This recent discovery of two new eel species further enhances ZSI’s contribution in the field of marine biodiversity.
