Discovery of Rare Marine Amphipod Stenothoe lowryi in Indian Waters

First Record in Indian Waters

Discovery of Rare Marine Amphipod Stenothoe lowryi in Indian Waters: Researchers from Berhampur University have discovered a rare marine amphipod species named Stenothoe lowryi in Indian waters for the first time. The species was recorded during a field survey conducted along the Arjyapalli coast in Ganjam district of Odisha.

The discovery is significant because the species had previously been reported only from Malaysia, and its distribution across other regions remained unknown. The finding adds important information to India’s growing record of marine biodiversity along the eastern coastline.

Research and Scientific Identification

The research was led by Shesdev Patro, Assistant Professor in the Department of Marine Science at Berhampur University. The study was conducted under the Mukhyamantri Research Innovation Extramural Programme (MRIEP) supported by the Odisha State Higher Education Council during the 2024–25 academic year.

During fieldwork conducted in January 2025, scientists collected eight specimens from rocky coastal habitats at Arjyapalli. Detailed morphological examination later confirmed the species as Stenothoe lowryi, marking its first recorded occurrence in India.

The findings were published in the Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, a reputed international journal in marine science.

Physical Characteristics of the Species

The amphipod Stenothoe lowryi is a small crustacean measuring approximately 5.5 millimetres in length. Researchers identified the species based on its distinctively large claws and specific structural features.

Amphipods are shrimp-like crustaceans belonging to the order Amphipoda, which includes thousands of species found across marine and freshwater ecosystems. Many amphipods inhabit rocky coastal environments, coral reefs, and seabeds.

Static GK fact: Crustaceans are arthropods with hard exoskeletons and jointed limbs, and the group includes organisms such as crabs, shrimps, lobsters, and amphipods.

Ecological Importance of Amphipods

Marine amphipods play a crucial role in the marine food chain. They often act as a link between microscopic organisms such as plankton and larger marine animals like fish.

Scientists believe that Stenothoe lowryi may contribute to nutrient recycling in marine ecosystems by feeding on organic debris and small organisms. Understanding its ecological role requires further molecular and ecological studies, which researchers have already initiated.

These studies will focus on the species’ behaviour, habitat preferences, and evolutionary relationships with other amphipod species.

Earlier Amphipod Discoveries in Odisha

The discovery of Stenothoe lowryi follows earlier marine findings by the same research team. In January 2025, scientists discovered another amphipod species in Chilika Lagoon near Rambha, named Grandidierella geetanjalae in honour of Berhampur University Vice-Chancellor Geetanjali Dash.

Earlier, in November 2022, researchers documented a new species named Parhyale odian from Barkul in Chilika Lake, named after Odia, the native language of Odisha.

Static GK Tip: Chilika Lake in Odisha is Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon and is recognised internationally as a Ramsar Wetland Site, known for its rich biodiversity and migratory bird population.

These discoveries highlight the rich but still unexplored marine biodiversity of the Odisha coastline. Continuous research in these ecosystems is expected to reveal many more unknown marine species in the future.

Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table

Discovery of Rare Marine Amphipod Stenothoe lowryi in Indian Waters: