ZSI Scientists Identify New Fish Species Bathymyrus perplexus From the Bay of Bengal

Scientists associated with the Zoological Survey of India have identified a new marine fish species, Bathymyrus perplexus, from the Bay of Bengal. The discovery adds a new species to India’s documented marine fauna and highlights the importance of continued taxonomic surveys along the country’s eastern coast.

The species was first represented by a specimen collected off the Paradip coast of Odisha in 2021. Further specimens recorded between 2021 and 2025 from Paradip, West Bengal, the Godavari region and Kakinada enabled researchers to carry out detailed morphological and genetic comparisons before confirming that the fish represented a distinct species.

New Species Confirmed Through Morphology and DNA Analysis

The identification was carried out by a research team that included scientists from the Zoological Survey of India’s Gopalpur centre and collaborating institutions. The researchers examined external body structure, diagnostic anatomical features and DNA sequences to distinguish the fish from previously known members of the genus Bathymyrus.

The Zoological Survey of India had already recorded Bathymyrus perplexus as a new species in its official faunal documentation, with specimen registration number F-15011 and associated genetic accession data. The formal scientific work was subsequently published in the Bulletin of Marine Science in September 2026.

The combined use of classical taxonomy and molecular analysis is increasingly important in identifying marine species that may appear superficially similar to known fishes but possess clear genetic and anatomical differences.

Distinctive Features of Bathymyrus perplexus

The newly described fish has a long, cylindrical body and a distinctive head and snout. Its colour ranges from pink to cloudy pink, with pronounced dark pigmentation on the upper part of the head and a black marking extending from the eye towards the snout.

Thin dark margins are also present along parts of the dorsal and anal fins. The fish has teeth in both the upper and lower jaws, along with additional dentition associated with the head region.

Researchers have reported the species from waters roughly 50 to 100 metres deep, indicating that it inhabits relatively deeper coastal marine environments rather than shallow nearshore waters.

Records Extend Across India’s Eastern Coast

The discovery is significant because specimens were not confined to a single locality. Researchers recorded a total of 32 specimens between 2021 and 2025 from several locations along India’s eastern seaboard.

Records from Odisha, West Bengal and the Andhra coast suggest that the species may have a broader distribution within the Bay of Bengal than the first Paradip specimen initially indicated.

Such findings are important for understanding the composition and geographical range of marine fish communities in the northern Indian Ocean, particularly in areas where biodiversity remains incompletely documented.

ZSI Continues to Expand India’s Marine Faunal Records

The Zoological Survey of India remains the country’s principal institution for surveying, documenting and classifying animal diversity. Its regional centres regularly conduct field surveys and maintain reference specimens that allow new discoveries to be compared with previously described species.

The identification of Bathymyrus perplexus demonstrates the value of long-term specimen collection and preservation. The first specimen collected in 2021 could not immediately be conclusively identified, but subsequent collections provided the comparative material needed for a formal taxonomic assessment.

The discovery also underlines how India’s coastal and offshore waters continue to yield previously undocumented species despite decades of marine biological research.

Bay of Bengal Remains an Important Frontier for Marine Biodiversity

The Bay of Bengal supports highly diverse marine ecosystems influenced by major river systems, seasonal monsoons, nutrient flows and a wide range of coastal habitats. Yet many deeper-water fish communities remain less extensively studied than those in shallow coastal waters.

New species descriptions such as Bathymyrus perplexus help refine scientific knowledge of these ecosystems and provide baseline information for future biodiversity monitoring.

By combining field surveys, preserved specimens, morphological study and genetic analysis, the ZSI-led research has added another formally recognised species to India’s marine biodiversity record. The finding strengthens the scientific inventory of the Bay of Bengal and provides a clearer picture of the biological richness present along India’s eastern coast.

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References

Zoological Survey of India — Annual Report 2023–24
https://zsi.gov.in/uploads/documents/importantLinks/english/Annual_Report_2023-24.pdf

Zoological Survey of India — Official Website
https://zsi.gov.in/

Bulletin of Marine Science — Scientific publication reporting Bathymyrus perplexus
https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/umrsmas/bullmar

OrissaPOST — ZSI Finds New Fish Species Off Paradip
https://www.orissapost.com/zsi-finds-new-fish-species-off-paradip/

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