Caridina sharmai

Caridina sharmai Latest News

Researchers recently identified a new species of freshwater shrimp named Caridina sharmai living in the Gomti River, marking the first time this type of crustacean has been recorded in the Lucknow region.

About Caridina sharmai

• It is a new species of freshwater shrimp.
• It was discovered in the upper reaches of the River Gomti (tributary of the Ganges) in the Lucknow region of Uttar Pradesh.
• It is distinguished by several unique physical characteristics that set it apart from its closest relatives, such as Caridina jalihali and Caridina mathiassi.  
  • Most notably, it features a short, knife-shaped rostrum (the beak-like extension at the front of its head) with 15 to 22 teeth on top and 4 to 9 on the underside. 
  • It ranges from 15 to 24 millimetres in length. 
  • Unlike many of its cousins, this new shrimp lacks a median spine on its tail (the telson) and possesses a deep, distinctive hollow or excavation on the joints of its front legs. 
  • These legs are also equipped with long, brush-like hairs that the shrimp uses to scrape algae from aquatic plants and filter food from the water. 
  • In the wild, these shrimps appear dark brown or black with yellowish-grey stripes, allowing them to blend into the shadows of the riverbed.  
  • The researchers observed that when kept in aquariums, the shrimp’s colour gradually fades until the creature becomes almost entirely transparent. 
  • They are described as calm, social animals that prefer to live in groups, clinging to underwater vegetation. 

News: RM

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