Deep-sea eel species discovered in Arabian Sea by ICAR-NBFGR; honors prominent ichthyologist with its name
A significant marine discovery has been made off the coast of India, particularly near Kerala and Kochi in the Arabian Sea. The newly identified deep-sea eel, Facciolella smithi, also known as Smith's Witch Eel, is a remarkable find that sheds light on the unexplored marine biodiversity of the region.
This elusive creature inhabits deep-sea environments at depths between 260 to 460 meters off the Kerala coast, and in oxygen minimum zones over 1,200 meters near Kochi. It is adapted to survive in cold, dark, high-pressure conditions, likely burrowing into soft sediments in areas with low oxygen levels.
Facciolella smithi has a distinctive two-tone body— a rich brown upper half and a milky white underside. It belongs to the witch eel family (Nettastomatidae) and exhibits adaptations like enhanced sensory systems to navigate the pitch-black, deep-sea environment.
The discovery of Facciolella smithi enriches scientific knowledge about deep-sea biodiversity, an area still largely unexplored. It supports India's Deep Ocean Mission goals and helps establish ecological baselines important for marine conservation and sustainable Blue Economy strategies.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is conducting studies on the eel’s nutritional profile, which may reveal valuable biochemical compounds with possible medicinal applications. While direct commercial exploitation is not immediate, the biochemical and nutritional properties could open avenues in food science and pharmaceuticals.
Regulatory trials and scalability assessments are required before any commercial applications can be pursued. The research was led by Dr. P. Kodeeswaran and Dr. T. T. Ajith Kumar from ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBFGR), Lucknow.
Dr. Kajal Chakraborty, Director of ICAR-NBFGR, stated that the discovery marks the 16th new eel species identified by the institute in the last four years. The findings have been published in the peer-reviewed international journal Zootaxa.
This discovery underscores India's rich deep-sea biodiversity and offers promising opportunities in scientific research, with potential future commercial value in nutrition and pharmaceuticals.
- The newfound deep-sea eel, Facciolella smithi, highlights the need for further research in environmental-science, especially the study of deep-sea biodiversity, as it significantly enriches our understanding of this unexplored region.
- The discovery of Facciolella smithi also opens avenues for education-and-self-development, as the biochemical and nutritional properties of this eel could lead to advancements in food science and pharmaceuticals, potentially contributing to breakthroughs in technology.
