New Finless Snake Eel Species Apterichtus kanniyakumari Discovered off Tamil Nadu Coast

The new species, Apterichtus kanniyakumari, is a finless snake eel that has been found in the Colachel coast in Tamil Nadu. The specimens were collected at a depth of approximately 100 m using deep-sea trawling and were examined in detail in terms of morphology and DNA analysis to ensure that they were unique. The eel is characterized by a body of golden yellow color, the lower half of the head is pale, and it has three black spots. It is the 16th marine species to be reported at the Indian coast by the NBFGR team, reflecting the unexplored but biodiverse marine species of the Arabian Sea off the Kanniyakumari.

Characteristics of Apterichtus kanniyakumari:

The eel species is visually different and can be identified by’

• The body color is golden-yellow.

• Sky-white underside of the head with yellow lines on the lower jaw.

• Three black blotches:

• One behind the eye.

• One at the side of the mouth (rictus).

• One behind the cause of the rictus.

Another important point of Apterichtus

• Discover by NBFGR found it near Colachel, Tamil Nadu.

• Named after the Kanniyakumari district.

• Scientific name: Apterichtus (finless snake eel)

• Recognition: Golden-yellow body, black blotches, and genetic CO 1 clade differentiation.

• Habitat: Sandy bottom, 100 to 800m deep.

• Family: Ophichthidae (snake eels)

Conclusion

The Apterichtus kanniyakumari was quite an achievement in the marine biodiversity study of India. Discovered off the coast of Kanniyakumari, this finless snake eel is indicative of the hidden abundance of the deep-sea ecosystems in the country that are still largely unexploited. Its distinctive characteristics, which were verified by observing morphological and genetic variation, are a great source of information about evolutionary diversity amongst eels. Not only is this observation contributing to the list of marine species that have been recorded in India before, but it also highlights why it is so crucially important to increase ocean research and preservation. Conserving delicate deep-sea ecosystems will help secure the survival of rare and endangered species such as this one, which is being preserved to add to the global knowledge base on ecology.