Indiaphonte Bijoyi Latest News
Recently, a microscopic crustacean was discovered in Kavaratti which has been named Indiaphonte bijoyi, with the generic name Indiaphonte.
About Indiaphonte Bijoyi
- It is a tiny crustacean discovered from the Kavaratti lagoon in the Lakshadweep islands.
- It belongs to the family Laophontidae within the Copepoda class.
- Habitat: It lives in sediments in aquatic environments.
Characteristics of Indiaphonte Bijoyi
- It has a semi-cylindrical, depressed body that is wider in the middle and tapering towards the posterior.
- It also has antennae-like appendages at the front.
- The females are slightly larger than the males.
- It is essentially Meiofauna, tiny invertebrate animals less than 1 millimetre in size.
Key Facts about Laophontidae
- It is the most diverse family with 350 species across 77 genera within the order Harpacticoida.Â
- They are microscopic in size and play a vital role in maintaining the health of marine and freshwater ecosystems.
- Ecological Role
- They are sensitive to pollution, oil spills, heavy metals, and climate change and are considered reliable bio-indicators of environmental change.
- They are widely used in aquaculture and fisheries, especially as live feed for fish larvae.
- They produce and convert omega-3 fatty acids such as Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) that are essential for the growth of fish and shellfish and contribute significantly to human nutritional security.
Source: TH
Indiaphonte Bijoyi FAQs
Q1: Indiaphonte bijoyi belongs to which family?
Ans: Laophontidae
Q2: Where was Indiaphonte bijoyi discovered?
Ans: Kavaratti lagoon, Lakshadweep islands
