Apterichtus kanniyakumari-New Species of Finless Snake Eel

Researchers from the National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR), Kochi have discovered a new species of finless snake eel off the Colachel coast in Tamil Nadu’s Kanniyakumari district.

Scientific Naming

The newly identified species has been named Apterichtus kanniyakumari, in honour of Kanniyakumari’s cultural, linguistic, historical and geographical significance. The discovery has been formally described in the international peer-reviewed journal Zootaxa.

About the Genus and Species

• The new eel belongs to the genus Apterichtus.
• Eels are elongated, snake-like fishes that fall under the order Anguilliformes.
• Snake eels are typically burrowers, living in sandy or muddy sea beds.

Significance of the Discovery

The identification of Apterichtus kanniyakumari adds to the rich marine biodiversity of India’s southern coast, highlighting the ecological importance of the Kanniyakumari region.