Why in News?
Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), in collaboration with the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) and international experts, have discovered a new species of deep-sea skate, Dipturus dhritiae, in the southeastern Arabian Sea off India’s southwestern coast. The discovery was made during research under the Ministry of Earth Sciences’ Deep Ocean Mission.
About the New Species
- Scientific name: Dipturus dhritiae
- Common name: Arabian Skate
- Maximum known length: 131.5 cm
- Habitat: Deep waters at depths of 400–600 metres
- Location: Off the Kerala coast and the Wadge Bank region
- Distinctive feature: Five rows of prominent thorns along the tail.
