Parhyale Odian : New Species Of Marine Amphipod
Researchers from Odisha’s Berhampur University discovered a new species of marine amphipod in Chilika Lake. It has been named Parhyale Odian after Odisha’s native language, Odia.
- Amphipods are a diverse group of malacostracan crustaceans, meaning they share some features with crabs, lobsters, and shrimp.
- They have a laterally compressed body, meaning they are flattened from side to side, and a curved body shape.
- The whale lice found on the bodies of whales and dolphins are actually a type of amphipod.
Parhyale Odian:
- It is a shrimp-like crustacean of the genus Parhyale.
- It is brown in colour, approximately 8 millimetres in length, and possesses 13 pairs of legs.
- The first pair of legs is specialized for capturing prey and feeding.
- Unlike the other 15 known species in the genus, Parhyale Odian stands out due to a stout robust seta- a spine-like structure on the surface of the male gnathopod (first pair of legs).
