30 June 2025, Lucknow
ICAR–National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, has announced the discovery of a new species of deep-sea eel, Facciolella smithi, from the Arabian Sea. The specimen was collected at a depth ranging from 260 to 460 meters off the Kerala coast.
This newly identified eel belongs to the family Nettastomatidae and is distinguished by its slender body and a uniquely shaped duckbill-like snout. The species has been named in honour of eminent ichthyologist Dr. David G. Smith for his significant contributions to eel taxonomy.
The identification was confirmed through comprehensive morphological, radiographic, and molecular analyses. The findings, led by Dr. P. Kodeeswaran and Dr. T. T. Ajith Kumar, have been peer-reviewed and published in the international journal ‘Zootaxa’.
Dr Kajal Chakraborty, Director, ICAR-NBFGR, highlighted that this is the 16th new eel species discovered by the institute in the past four years, underscoring the immense biodiversity of India’s deep-sea ecosystems and the growing importance of marine exploration. Nutritional profiling of the new species is currently underway to assess its commercial potential in food and pharmaceutical applications.
(Source: ICAR–National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Lucknow)
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