BU researchers discover rare marine amphipod

Berhampur: Marine science researchers of Berhampur University discovered another rare marine amphipod, a shrimp-like species for the first time from Arjyapalli, a fishermen-dominated coastal village in Ganjam district. As it was found from the rocky intertidal coast of Arjyapalli, the researchers have named the species as “Elasmopus arjyaensis”.The specimens of the tiny crustacean were collected by researchers from the coastal village in Oct last year. After conducting its elaborate analysis through morphological and DNA, it was ascertained as the new species of Elasmopus genus. “With this, the number of species in the particular genus was increased to 126 worldwide,” said Shesdev Patro, assistant professor, marine science department of the university, who led the study.Similarly, the discovery has also increased the number of known Elasmopus species in India to 12 and first in Odisha under this genus, he said and added it highlights Odisha’s rich yet understudied marine biodiversity.The study was conducted by the funds provided under the Mukhyamantri Research Innovation Extramural Programme (MRIEP) of the Odisha State Higher Education Council (OSHEC) 2024-25. The details on the new marine amphipod were published in an international journal, Marine Biodiversity’s latest edition on Monday. The species may have a wider in Indo-Pacific distribution, with related genetic sequences also reported from China, he added.The species is distinguished by its claws and preference for rocky environments, said Shreeraj Nahak, a researcher and one of the co-authors of the article published in the journal. Although little is currently known about its ecological role, it is believed to contribute significantly to the marine food web, said Suman Patra, other research scholars who have been involved in the discovery of the marine amphipod. This finding highlights the need for more detailed assessments of marine amphipods and their diversity along the Indian coasts.