Kolkata: Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) scientists have discovered a new electric ray species in the deep waters of Arabian Sea off India’s southwestern coast, marking the first confirmed record of genus Tetronarce in northern Indian Ocean. The species has been named Tetronarce ramanamurthyi.
Anatomical examination and DNA sequencing established it as a distinct species, with genetic analysis showing divergence of 2.2%–6.7% from related species. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Kolkata | Silver Rate in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata | Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Petrol Price in Kolkata | Diesel Price in Kolkata | CNG Price in Kolkata | LPG Price in Kolkata Stay updated with the latest Kolkata news. The discovery was based on nine specimens collected under ministry of earth sciences’ Deep Ocean Mission. The findings were published in international taxonomy journal Zootaxa. The species has a uniformly dark bluish-black to dark-brown upper surface, a flattened disc wider than its length, relatively small electric organs and no fleshy projections around its spiracles, through which it draws water for respiration. The research was led by KK Bineesh and Anil Kasinath of ZSI’s Marine Biology Regional Centre, in collaboration with David A Ebert of Pacific Shark Research Center at San Jose State University, USA. The name of the species honours M V Ramana Murthy, mission director of Deep Ocean Mission, for his contributions to marine science and ocean engineering. Download the TOI App.