Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Species
Why in News?
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.
References
- The Hindu | Indiaphonte bijoyi
- ToI | Indiaphonte bijoyi
