EEL SPECIES (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: Researchers of the National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR), functioning under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), have discovered two eel species

Eel Species

• About: The recently found Congrid eels belong to the Ariosoma genus, and authoritative research articles on these species have been published and approved.
• Species Naming: Eels from the Gulf of Mannar are named 'Ariosoma kannani' after the late Prof L Kannan, while those from the Kerala coast are named 'Ariosoma gracile' based on morphological characteristics.
• Growing in Indian Waters: The discovery contributes to the understanding of marine biodiversity in Indian waters, especially regarding the less-explored group of eels (Anguilliformes).
• Understanding Species Evolution: Researchers emphasize the necessity of a comprehensive study to understand the species and its evolution, including protein profiling for potential public consumption recommendations.
• Recognition: The holotype specimens of the new species are registered at the National Fish Museum, Lucknow, and published in 'Zoosystematics and Evolution,' further registered in ZooBank for zoological nomenclature.