Indiaphonte bijoyi

Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Species

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A microscopic crustacean discovered in Lakshadweep has been formally recognised as a new genus and new species.

Scientific name – Indiaphonte bijoyi
Genus - The genus name Indiaphonte honours India.
Discovery– Discovered from the Kavaratti lagoon, Lakshadweep.
Nomenclature - Species name bijoyi honours S. Bijoy Nandan, Dean, Faculty of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat).
Habitat – It lives in sediments of aquatic environments, including lagoon ecosystems.
Distribution – Kavaratti lagoon, Lakshadweep islands.
South-eastern Arabian Sea, off India’s south-west coast, known for high meiofaunal diversity.
Morphological characteristics – It is a microscopic crustacean, observable only under a microscope.
It is a part of meiofauna (invertebrate animals <1 mm).
The body is partly cylindrical and slightly flattened.
It is broader in the middle and narrows towards the back.
Males and females look almost the same, which is rare in this group.
It is identified by distinct features in its swimming legs, tail part and antennae.
Ecological importance – It contributes to marine and freshwater ecosystem health.
Produces and converts omega-3 fatty acids such as Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) that support fish and shellfish growth.
Important for human nutritional security.
Acts as a bio-indicator due to sensitivity to pollution, oil spills, heavy metals and climate change.
Used in aquaculture and fisheries as live feed for fish larvae.

Indiaphonte bijoyi

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