New species of Moray eel discovered off Cuddalore coast named after Tamil Nadu
A New species of Moray eel
A new species of Moray eel were discovered off the Cuddalore coast and is now named after Tamil Nadu. This is the first time that an eel of such type has been found and named after Tamil Nadu, as Tamilnaduensis. There have been studies on this new species of Moray eel at the Mudasalodai fish landing center off the Cuddalore coast and it has been named after Tamil Nadu as Gymnothorax tamilnaduensis with a common name as Tamil Nadu brown moray.
This is the first time that anyone has ever heard of the genus Gymnothorax, which was discovered during an exploration study along the Cuddalore district’s coastal waters. Apart from that, four specimens have been collected from the area at the depth of 25-30 meters from the fishing landing center at Mudasalodai, these species are notably known for their Indian water congeners by having a trail of lines of small dark spots present on the head and a single line of black spots on the mid-line of the body.
Gymnothorax species number about 28 and have only recently been discovered in Indian waters. So the species discovered from the coast of Cuddalore do represent India and have now brought the total number of species of Gymnothorax to 29. Hence, the present characteristics of this new species of the genus Gymnothorax from the Southeastern coast of the Bay of Bengal. The National Fish Museum and repository of ICAR-NBFGR, Lucknow, has received the holotype of this rare species.
Ajith Kumar and his researchers conducted an extensive morphological analysis, advanced molecular markers, and skeleton radiography, are collaborated with the species delimitation computational techniques to conclude that this Moray eel specimen was collected from Mudasaldai district from other species of the Genus Gymnothorax. A few species were sent to the zoological survey of India for guarantee.
Also, Mr. Ajith Kumar revealed that the name of this species was entered into ZooBank, an online database for the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN). According to U.K. Sarkar, Director of NBFGR, the Institute has been conducting explorations non-stop in the undiscovered regions of the nation to document the unrevealed biodiversity of the nation, which will help to enhance the biodiverse catalog of India.
Key Takeaways:
– The new species of Moray eel was discovered at the Mudasalodai fish landing centre off the Cuddalore coast
– The species has been named after Tamil Nadu as Gymnothorax tamilnaduensis with common name as Tamil Nadu brown moray
Chenab Bridge: The World’s Highest Rail Bridge at the height of 359 metres above the river bed
Vande Bharat Express and Vande Metro are soon going to start going up and down the hill of the world’s highest Railway bridge at the height of 359 meters above the riverbed – Chenab Bridge. Railway Minister – Ashwini Vaishnaw said in a statement that Vande Metro will connect Jammu and Srinagar once the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla (USBRL) rail link is completely functional.
Vaishnaw also claimed that once this railway line will go operational, the Vande Bharat express will run on it and for its uninterrupted services, a maintenance facilities plant will be set up in Badgam in Jammu & Kashmir. He said that electrification works on Chenab river is in progress and will start soon because it will be equipped with indigenous Kavach anti-collision system.
In addition, he said, the Vande Metro will run between the two capital cities of the Union Territory, effectively combining them into one city where one departs Srinagar for Jammu in the morning and returns home in the Valley by the evening, and vice versa. He noted that the completion of the railway line will reduce the travel time between Jammu and Srinagar to 3.30 hours.
He also announced the development of four cargo terminals on the Banihal-Baramulla rail section. According to him, the main advantage of these cargo terminals will be the ease with which apple and other items can be transported from Kashmir to other parts of the nation. These supplies will get delivered to terminals, will be packed and then will be transported in air-conditioned carts to their destination within a short time and at very low expenses.
It was also brought to notice that a separate training academy for railway workers will also be established in Jammu to address upkeep of the railway track and other facilities developed in a very challenging hilly environment. It is known that the goal is to improve the rail connectivity between Jammu and Srinagar by December 2023 or January 2024. The arch bridge, which cost Rs. 1,400 crore and spans the Chenab River between Bakkal and Kauri in the Reasi district, is 35 metres taller than Paris’ Eiffel Tower and stands at a height of 359 metres (1,178 feet) above the riverbank.
Key Takeaways:
– Built across the Chenab river between Bakkal and Kauri in Reasi district at a height of 359 m (1,178 ft) from river bed the arch bridge costing RS. 14000 is 35 mts taller than the Eiffel Tower
– Vande Bharat Express and Vande Metro will soon run on Indian Railways’ new network in Jammu and Kashmir, connecting Jammu and Srinagar once the dhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla (USBRL) is fully operational
– The link will reduce the travel time between the two towns to 3.5 hrs from 7 hrs by road on the 248 Kms Jammu Srinagar Highway
– The foundation has a strong built and can sustain an earthquake measuring upto 8 ritcher scale
– Area in Badgaon district has been identified for building a train maintenance depot for USBRL trains
– Construction of 4 Cargo terminal has been planned in Baramulla.
