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Daily News Analysis

Scomberoides pelagicus                                                       

3rd February, 2022 Environment

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Context: The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has identified a new carangid (Vatta) species from the Indian coast.

 

About Vatta species:

  • It belongs to the ‘queen fish’ group.
  • It is named scomberoides pelagicus’.
  • The fish is locally known as “pola vatta”.
  • Distinctive features: Deep ovate body, concave dorsal head profile and stout and less numerous gill rakers on the first gill arch compared to the closely related species.
  • It is the fifth queen fish discovered from the Indian waters.
  • Significance of this discovery:

    • Identification of new fishes assumes significance as it helps enrich marine biodiversity.
    • It would help better Indian marine biodiversity status.
    • It would help policy makers, marine scientists and other stakeholders to work on management and conservation plans.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/cmfri-identifies-new-fish-in-indian-waters/article38363721.ece?homepage=true