New Species of Congrid Eel Discovered

In March 2025, researchers from the 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 and named it Ariosoma tamilicum in honour of the Tamil language.

Key Points

Scientific Discovery: The species belongs to the genus Ariosoma and was identified through morphological, skeletal, and molecular studies.
Naming Significance: Fishermen involved in the discovery requested it to be named after Tamil, the world's oldest language.
Distinct Features: The eel has unique characteristics, including a whitish band across the head, dark pigmentation on the lower jaw, long vomerine teeth, and 120-129 vertebrae.
Commercial Potential: Nutritional profiling is underway to determine if the species can be commercialised for consumption.
Ongoing Research: This marks the 14th eel species discovered by NBFGR from Indian waters.