New Nematode Species
Why in News?
Researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Kolkata, have recently discovered two new free‑living marine nematode species off the coast of Tamil Nadu.
About Species
- The two new species are named:
- Corononema dhriti
- Epacanthion indica
- Both are free‑living marine nematodes, not parasites; they live in sandy‑benthic habitats of the coastal ocean.
- They were discovered in samples collected off the Tamil Nadu coast and described by ZSI scientists.
- Corononema dhriti:
- A free‑living marine nematode adapted to benthic (sea‑floor) environments.
- Its morphology helps refine the genus Corononema, which is already known from other marine regions.
- Epacanthion indica:
- Possesses specialised mandibles and tooth‑like structures, making it a microscopic predator feeding on smaller organisms.
- Unlike many nematodes that eat microbes, this predatory habit places it higher in the benthic food web, indicating ecological diversity.
- The discoveries:
- Increase the number of known nematode species from India and the world, adding to taxonomic databases.
- Show that even relatively accessible coastal zones can harbour undescribed species, stressing the need for more systematic surveys.
- Nematodes play crucial roles in:
- Nutrient cycling (decomposition, organic‑matter processing).
- Soil and sediment structure, and as prey for other benthic organisms.
- In 2025, ZSI scientists also described a new soil‑dwelling nematode, Crassolabium dhritiae, from Odisha, named after Dr. Dhriti Banerjee, Director of ZSI.
- That finding increased the global count of Crassolabium species to 39, with 9 now recorded from India, underscoring India’s rich soil‑invertebrate biodiversity.
- Nematodes are unsegmented, worm‑like organisms belonging to the phylum Nematoda; they are among the most abundant animals on Earth.
- They occur as:
- Free‑living forms in soil, fresh water, and marine sediments.
- Parasites of plants, animals, and humans (e.g., hookworms, some crop pests).
