CMFRI Identifies New Deep-Sea Fish Species in Arabian Sea

Indian researchers have discovered a new deep-sea fish in the Arabian Sea off southern Kerala. The species, named Cyttopsis indica or Indian dory, was found at depths of 350–500 metres along the continental slope of the eastern Lakshadweep Sea.

The identification is based on six specimens collected from deep-sea trawl landings at Sakthikulangara fishing harbour in Kollam. A team led by CMFRI scientist Ratheesh Kumar R ran traditional taxonomic analysis alongside molecular tools to confirm the species. The work corrects a long-standing error: until this study, the dory seen in the Indian Ocean had been assumed to be Cyttopsis rosea, a species whose distribution is now shown to be confined to the Atlantic Ocean.

DNA analysis revealed a significant genetic divergence from all other known species in the genus. The research was published in the latest issue of the Indian Journal of Fisheries.

The finding points to the largely unexplored marine biodiversity in deep waters off India’s southwest coast.