Squalus hima New Species of Dogfish Shark | 15 Jul 2024
Scientists of Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have discovered a new species of deep-water dogfish shark, Squalus hima, from the Sakthikulangara fishing harbour in Kerala along the Arabian Sea.
- Squalus is a genus of dogfish sharks in the family Squalidae. commonly known as spurdogs, and are characterised by smooth dorsal fin spines.
- In the Indian coast, two species of Squalus are found from the southwest coast of India and the new species, Squalus hima n.sp. very similar to Squalus lalannei, but differs in many characteristics.
- The Squalus megalops group species have a short, angular snout, a small mouth nearly as wide as the snout, first dorsal fin origin behind the pectoral fins, and a spotless body.
- The genus of Squalus and Centrophorus are exploited for their liver oil containing high levels of squalene, which is in high demand for pharmaceutical industries, especially for making high-end cosmetic and anti-cancer products.
- The ZSI was established in 1916 to study the diverse fauna of the country. It has evolved into a national institution with headquarters in Kolkata and 16 regional centres.
- It expanded its functions to include environmental impact assessments, conservation area surveys, DNA molecular studies, and wildlife forensic studies. It houses over 5.5 million specimens representing 103,920 species from India and neighbouring countries.
Read more: New Fish Species Discovered