In March 2025, Researchers of department of zoology, Berhampur University (BU) based in Odisha, in collaboration with Ganjam (Odisha)-based Estuarine Biology Regional Centre (EBRC) of Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have discovered a new species of marine parasitic isopod. The species has been named ‘Lobothorax Bharat’ in honor of India, the homeland of the scientists behind the discovery
- This tiny parasite, less than 3 centimeters(cm) long, was found along the coast at Gopalpur and Bahabalpur in Ganjam and Balasore districts, respectively of Odisha.
- The discovery of new species was published in Zootaxa, a premier international taxonomy journal.
Background:
i.The study, began in 2023, was part of a 3-year research project titled ‘Molecular Characterization, Genetic Analysis and Study of the Life Cycle of Parasitic Isopod Found along the Northern Part of the East Coast of India and Chilika Lagoon’.
ii.It was funded by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ARNF) of the Government of India (GoI), with a total cost of over Rs 37 lakh.
About Lobothorax Bharat:
i.This newly discovered species belongs to the family Cymothoidae.
ii.It is known as the 4th known species in the Lobothorax genus, a group of parasitic isopods found in the buccal activity of marine fish. It affixes itself to the tongue of its host species.
- These parasites feed on the blood and mucus of their hosts, which often led to anaemia in affected fish populations.
iii.Lobothorax Bharat is different from its closest relative i.e. Lobothorax typus Bleeker (1857).
New Wild Ginger Species Discovered in Odisha’ Similipal BR
The Researchers from Baripada (Odisha)-based Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University (MSCB University) have found a new species of wild ginger from Similipal Biosphere Reserve (SBR) located in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha.
- It was discovered by Dr. Sudam Charan Sahu, Assistant Professor of Botany, and Sifan Priyadarshini, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) researcher scholar of Botany, have been exploring the diversity of ‘Zingiberaceae’ family in Odisha for the last 3 years.
- The discovery of this species was published in the international journal ‘Phytotaxa’.
Key Points:
i.The newly identified species has been named ‘Zingiber Jagannathii Sahu & Priyadarshini’ in the honour of ‘Lord Jagannath’.
ii.It was discovered in August 2024 near Kulipala SBR at a height of 758 meters (m). Its unique morphological features make it different within the Zingiberaceae family.
About Zoological Survey of India (ZSI):
Director- Dr. Dhriti Banerjee
Headquarters- Kolkata, West Bengal (WB)
Established- 1916
