New eel species found in Colachel named after Apterichtus kanniyakumar

A captivating new marine species named Apterichtus kanniyakumari has been found off the coast of Colachel in Tamil Nadu, marking an exciting addition to India’s coastal biodiversity. This species belongs to the Apterichtus genus, commonly known as finless snake eels, and was discovered by a dedicated team from the National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR). The name honors Kanniyakumari, the southernmost district of India. This finding not only deepens our knowledge of India’s marine life but also highlights the ecological richness of the southeastern Arabian Sea region.

Discovery and Scientific Context

The species was discovered during marine biodiversity studies carried out by the NBFGR team near Colachel, a charming coastal town in the Kanniyakumari district. Through genetic analysis using the mitochondrial CO1 gene, researchers confirmed that Apterichtus kanniyakumari belongs to a unique clade (a group of organisms that have evolved from a common ancestor) separate from its closely related species, Apterichtus nanjilnaduensis — another recently identified species within the same genus. This highlights the increasing significance of molecular taxonomy in the identification of modern species.

Apterichtus Kanniyakumari is an exciting new species of finless snake eel, identified from two specimens that were caught during deep-sea trawling off the southwest coast of India. What sets this species apart from its relatives are its distinctive features, including a head length that measures 9.6-9.7% of its total length (TL), a tail length of 1.8-1.9% TL, and a body depth at the gill openings ranging from 42.1-54.8% TL. It also has three preopercular pores and nine supratemporal pores, along with uniserial conical teeth. The eel showcases a striking golden-yellow body, a pale white underside of the head adorned with yellow lines, and three black blotches located near its eyes and jaws.