New Marine Amphipod in Indian Waters (Stenothoe lowryi)

Why in News?

Recently, a rare shrimp-like marine amphipod was recorded in Indian waters with findings published in the Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom.

• Scientific Name – Stenothoe lowryi.
• Genus – Stenothoe.
• Habitat – Intertidal rocky pools and coastal rock environments.
• Distribution – Recorded for the first time in Indian waters at Arjyapalli in Ganjam district, Odisha, at least eight specimens were collected.
• Earlier recorded from Pangkor Island in the Straits of Malacca, Malaysia.
• Key Characteristics – Small Shrimp-like marine species (crustacean) with smooth bodies.
• Long antennae longer than the head and the first body segments.
• Size – About 5.5 mm in length
• Large claws and a preference for rocky environments.
• Stenothoe lowryi is morphologically similar to the closely related species Stenothoe gallensis.
• Ecological Significance – Increases the number of stenothoid amphipod species recorded in South Asia.
• Believed to contribute to the marine food web.

• Other related species discovery
  • Grandidierella geetanjalae – It is a marine amphipod, a shrimp-like crustacea discovered from Chilika lagoon in Jan, 2026.
  • Parhyale odian - In 2022, the new species of marine amphipod from the Chilika lake at Barkul, named as Parhyale odian after Odisha’s native language.

Reference

ToI | Stenothoe lowryi