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New Shark Species Found Hiding in Indian Ocean
12 Nov
Summary
- A new shark species, the Indian Bramble Shark, was discovered.
- DNA analysis confirmed it's distinct from Atlantic and Pacific species.
- Accurate identification aids vital conservation and fisheries monitoring.
For decades, a deep-sea shark off the Kerala coast was misidentified as an Atlantic species. However, Indian researchers have now discovered it is a distinct new species, Echinorhinus roinee, or the Indian Bramble Shark. This significant finding, published in the Records of the Zoological Survey of India, adds to India's marine biodiversity knowledge.
The shark, found as accidental catches by shrimp trawlers, was subjected to physical and DNA analysis by scientists from the Zoological Survey of India and ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute. The genetic sequencing confirmed it is a separate Indian Ocean lineage, distinct from Echinorhinus brucus and Echinorhinus cookei.
Accurate species identification is vital for marine conservation. It ensures correct fisheries records, helps assess population threats, and supports targeted conservation efforts for deep-sea species, many of which have slow reproduction rates and are vulnerable to fishing.
The scientific name, roinee, honors Dr. Dhriti Banerjee's daughter. The discovery underscores that the deep sea, even areas regularly accessed by fishing, still holds many scientific secrets, with further exploration promising more revelations.
