The species, belonging to the genus Ariosoma, was found off the Thoothukudi coast and was named tamilicum.
Researchers at the National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR), functioning under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), have discovered a new species of Congrid eel and named it after Tamil.
The species, belonging to the genus Ariosoma, was found off the Thoothukudi coast and was named tamilicum, “with reference to the world’s oldest language, Tamil”, said T.T. Ajith Kumar, director (acting) of ICAR-NBFGR. “The fishermen who helped us in finding the eel requested that it be named after the State. It was then decided to name it after Tamil, the oldest language in the world. The name was also approved by international reviewers,” he said.
Scientists from NBFGR are working in waterbodies off northeast Lakshadweep to explore the poorly studied fish group called Anguilligormes. The identity of the species was validated by international experts in the field of eel taxonomy, and the finding was published in the international peer-reviewed journal, Zootaxa.
Researchers from the Bureau and scientists from the Zoological Survey of India conducted morphological analysis, skeleton radiography and advanced molecular studies to ascertain the uniqueness of the species among the genus Ariosoma.
They found several differences: the new species presented with dorsal surface of head with single whitish band across anterior eye margin; the ventral portion of lower jaw had tiny dark pigmentation patches, forming a dark line along the isthmus. It had long, vomerine teeth patch, reaching half the length of maxillary, and possessed 120-129 total vertebrae.
Mr. Kumar said only a handful of research institutes were dedicated to studying the biodiversity of the less-explored, little known eel group in Indian waters.
“The NBFGR is giving more focus to this group, and this is the 14th eel species discovered from the Indian coast by the NBFGR team. We are conducting nutritional profiling of the species. If the protein level is comparable to other edible fish, we could even suggest that it be commercialised for consumption,” he said.
Published – March 13, 2025 12:34 am IST
