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New Eel Species Discovered Off Thoothukudi Coast Named in Honor of Tamil Language.

Environment | Dated: 18 Mar 2025

In March 2025, researchers at the Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh, UP)-based Indian Council of Agricultural Research-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBFGR) discovered a new species of Congrid eel off the Thoothukudi coast in Tamil Nadu (TN).

🎯 Key Highlights:

  • - The eel belongs to the genus Ariosoma and has been named Tamilicum in honor of the world's oldest language, 'Tamil'.

💡 Other Important Facts:

  • (i) Tamilicum possesses unique features, including a dorsal surface of the head with a single whitish band across the anterior eye margin, a long vomerine teeth patch reaching half the length of the maxillary, and 120-129 total vertebrae.
  • (ii) This marks the 14th eel species discovered in Indian waters by the NBFGR team.
  • (iii) The species’ identity was validated by international experts in eel taxonomy, and the findings were published in the international peer-reviewed journal Zootaxa.

📚 Test Your Knowledge:

Recently, a new eel species was discovered off the Thoothukudi coast. What is its name?

Correct Answer: Tamilicum

🚀 Quick Recap: