Researchers at Odisha’s Berhampur University have discovered a new species of marine amphipod — a shrimp-like crustacea of genus Parhyale — from the state’s Chilika Lake.
- Chilika Lake is Asia’s biggest brackish water lagoon on India’s east coast.
- The new species has been named Parhyale odian after Odisha’s native language, Odia, as the species was collected there.
Amphipods
- Amphipods comprise an order of crustacea, shrimp-like in form, which contains mostly marine and freshwater forms.
- While some species are terrestrial, they still require moist habitats. These terrestrial species are sometimes referred to as “lawn shrimp” due to their similarity to true shrimp.
- Amphipods are a significant group in the marine ecosystem and play a vital role in the marine food chain.
- They also serve as indicators for studying the impact of climate change and health of coastal ecosystems,
