Berhampur: Researchers at the Estuarine Biology Regional Centre at Gopalpur in Odisha’s Ganjam in collaboration with the Zoological Survey of India district have identified a new species of flying fish, ‘Cheilopogon arcticeps’, in the Indian Ocean.
Earlier, ‘Cheilopogon arcticeps’ was documented in China, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan, and Thailand.
According to researcher Anil Mohapatra, the fish was first identified at the Petuaghat fish landing center in neighbouring West Bengal. The fish is usually found in the range between the western Pacific Ocean and the Bay of Bengal. ‘Cheilopogon arcticeps’ is distinguished by its elongated and broad pectoral fins.
The research was undertaken by Anil Mohapatra, Subhendu Sekhar Mishra, Dipan Roy of Bajkul Milani Mahavidyalaya, and researchers Sanmitra Roy and Tapan Khatua. Their findings have been published in the prestigious Journal of the Marine Biological Association.
Till date, scientists have identified 80 species of flying fish worldwide, with 24 recorded along India’s coastal waters.
