• In a significant marine discovery, scientists have recorded the sliteye shark (Loxodon macrorhinus) for the first time in the Great Chagos Bank of the Indian Ocean-the world’s largest coral atoll.
• This marks an important addition to the biodiversity profile of the region.
• The sliteye shark is a small-bodied requiem shark from the family Carcharhinidae and is the only member of its genus Loxodon.
• Found across inshore waters of the Indo-West Pacific, the species is distinguished by its slit-like eyes, an adaptation believed to enhance vision in low-light conditions.
• It can grow up to 95 cm, with slender bodies, long faces, and pale-edged fins.
• Distributed widely across tropical waters-from Australia and Japan to India, Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula-the species is currently classified as ‘Near Threatened’ on the IUCN Red List due to habitat pressures and fishing activities.
• The discovery at the Chagos Bank highlights the ecological richness of the Indian Ocean and the need for conservation of vulnerable marine species.