Apterichtus kanniyakumari Latest News
Researchers from National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR) have discovered a new species of finless snake eel and named it after Kanniyakumari as Apterichtus kanniyakumari.Â
About Apterichtus kanniyakumari
- It is a species of finless snake eel belonging to the genus Apterichtus was discovered off the Colachel coast.Â
Features of Apterichtus kanniyakumari
- It has distinct golden-yellow body colouration, ventral side of head pale white with yellow lines along the lower jaw.
- It consists of three black blotches including one behind the eyes followed by one in rictus and another behind the origin of rictus.
- Molecular analysis based on mitochondrial CO1 gene exhibits that this new species forms a distinct clade with its sympatric species, Apterichtus nanjilnaduensis.
Key Facts about Snake eels
- Snake eels are members of the family Ophichthidae, and are named for their snake-like appearance
- Distribution: They are found in both tropical and temperate waters in oceans around the world.
- Habitat: These eels mainly live in sandy areas in shallow seas, however some live in depths to 800m.
- The snake eel uses its tail to burrow backward into the sea bottom, creating a protective burrow.
Source: TH
Apterichtus kanniyakumari FAQs
Q1: What is an eel?
Ans: Eels are elongated fishes, distinct from most others due to their cylindrical bodies and a continuous fin running around the tail tip.
Q2: What does the CO1 gene do?
Ans: It can be used to identify individuals belonging to the same species, as well as to distinguish between individuals from different species.
