LACCADIVE SEA (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geography)

Context: Three new fish species were recently discovered utilizing tools in the Laccadive Sea.

Laccadive Sea

• About: It  also referred to as the Lakshadweep Sea, is a significant body of water situated in the Indian Ocean region, encompassing several coastal areas of India, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka.
• Bordering Countries: The Laccadive Sea borders India, including its Lakshadweep islands, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka.
• Bordering States: Positioned southwest of Karnataka, west of Kerala, and south of Tamil Nadu, the Laccadive Sea holds a strategic location in the Indian Ocean.
• Climate and Marine Life:

oStable Water Temperature: This warm sea maintains a stable water temperature throughout the year, contributing to its biodiversity.

oRich Marine Life: The Laccadive Sea boasts a diverse range of marine species, with the Gulf of Mannar alone accommodating approximately 3,600 species.

• Major Urban Centers: Several major cities dot the coastline of the Laccadive Sea, including Mangaluru, Kasaragod, Kannur, Kozhikode, Ponnani, Kochi, Alappuzha, Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram, Tuticorin, Colombo, and Malé.
• Southern Border: Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of peninsular India, also shares its border with the Laccadive Sea, enhancing its geographical significance.

Discovery of Tool-Using Fish in the Laccadive Sea

• Introduction to the Species: Three fish species residing in the Laccadive Sea, off the southwest coast of India, exhibit tool-using behavior, as recently uncovered.
• Tool Usage Behavior: All three species utilize live or deceased coral structures as anvils, employing them to crack open sea urchin shells to access the edible portions within.
• Anvil Use Among Fish Species: Prior observations of anvil use in fish were limited to approximately 18 species worldwide, all within the Labridae family to which the three wrasses belong.