Cusat study finds new shrimp species in Kochi backwaters

Kochi: Researchers from the School of Industrial Fisheries at Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) have discovered a new species of pistol shrimp, also known as snapping shrimp, in the Kochi backwaters. The newly identified species, belonging to the family Alpheidae, has been named Alpheus madhusoodanai. The discovery was published in the ‘Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom'.
The species has been named in honour of Prof B Madhusoodana Kurup, the first vice-chancellor of Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies and a noted fisheries scientist. Researchers said such shrimp species hold significant ecological and economic importance. They inhabit backwater regions with mangrove forests as well as coral reef-rich marine ecosystems and play a key role in maintaining environmental balance. It further pointed out that only limited research has been conducted in India on the biodiversity of the Alpheidae family. According to the researchers, this is the first alpheid shrimp species to be recorded from an estuary in the region. The morphological and molecular characteristics of the new species were compared with those of closely related species to confirm its distinct identity. "There is considerable global interest in this species. In local waters, they occur in small numbers and are often caught in stake nets. However, since they have no commercial value, there is little interest among fishers," said Prof M Harikrishnan of Cusat. He added that the shrimp has a burrowing tendency and contributes to the health of mangrove ecosystems by releasing toxic gases trapped in swampy soil. The research team included scholars KP Vishnu, AbhaiKrishna U and Nidhin B M.