New Nematode Species

New Nematode Species Latest News

Recently, researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have identified two new species of free-living marine nematodes off the coast of Tamil Nadu and named them Corononema dhriti and Epacanthion indica.

About Corononema dhriti and Epacanthion indica

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Corononema dhriti

• It is a free-living marine nematodes found off the coast of Tamil Nadu
• It is named in honor of Dr. Dhriti Banerjee, Director of the Zoological Survey of India,
• It is only the fourth known species of this genus globally.
• It was previously documented only in Australia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Epacanthion indica

• It is named after the nation of its discovery; this species stands out due to its complex anatomy.
• Unlike many nematodes that feed on microbes, E. indica possesses specialized mandibles and “teeth,” positioning it as a microscopic predator within the benthic food web.

What are Nematodes?

• These are any worm of the phylum Nematoda.
• They occur as parasites in animals and plants or as free-living forms in soil, fresh water, marine environments, and even such unusual places as vinegar, beer malts, and water-filled cracks deep within Earth’s crust.
• Features
  • Nematodes are bilaterally symmetrical, elongate, and usually tapered at both ends.
  • Some species possess a pseudocoel, a fluid-filled body cavity between the digestive tract and the body wall.
  • Distribution: They have been reported from every continent on earth and occur in deserts, swamps, the oceans, the tropics and Antarctica.
• Significance of marine nematodes

• • Nutrient Cycling: Breaking down organic waste and recycling essential nutrients back into the ocean.
  • Sediment Health: Maintaining the stability and productivity of coastal sediments.
  • Bio-Indicators: Serving as vital markers for environmental health and climate change impact.

Source: IBG News