New Marine Worm Species

sfg-2026
ForumIAS LATEST
    1. 5 August | Toppers Wrote 1000 Answers Between Prelims & Mains! | Click Here to Watch →
    2. 5 August | Are you the Average of the 5 People Around You by Mr. Ayush Sinha | Click Here to Watch →
    3. 5 August | First UPSC Mains Don't Chase AIR 1 by Mr Ayush Sinha | Click Here to Watch →

NewsResearchers from the Zoological Survey of India discovered two new marine worm species along the polluted coastline of West Bengal.

These worms are “bio-warriors” that survive in extreme conditions where most life cannot, highlighting the delicate and often unseen biodiversity along India’s northern coasts.

New Marine Worm Species
Source- IE

About New Marine Worm Species

  • Researchers discovered two new polychaete marine worm species that reveal hidden and resilient biodiversity along India’s northern Bay of Bengal coast.
  • Location: The discovery was made in the Digha and Bankiput regions of Purba Medinipur district in West Bengal.
  • Discovery by: The discovery was made by researchers from the Zoological Survey of India in collaboration with international experts.

About Namalycastis solenotognatha

  • Naming: Its name is derived from the Greek words solenotos (channeled) and gnatha (jaw), referring to its unique jaw structure.
  • Habitat: It survives in extreme, sulfide-rich, foul-smelling mudflats and is found on decomposing mangrove wood and hardened clay.
  • Key features: It has an unusual channeled jaw with many canals emerging from the pulp cavity.

About Nereis dhritiae

  • Naming: The species is named after Dhriti Banerjee, the first woman director of the Zoological Survey of India.
  • Habitat: It lives inside wooden dock piles on sandy beaches that remain submerged during high tide.
  • Key features: The species shows strong resilience by surviving in heavily polluted and human-impacted coastal areas.
Print Friendly and PDF
Blog
Academy
Community