Indian marine scientists have identified and described a new species of electric ray from the deep waters of the southeastern Arabian Sea, adding to scientific understanding of marine biodiversity in the northern Indian Ocean.
The species, scientifically named Tetronarce ramanamurthyi, is commonly known as the Arabian Black Electric Ray. Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) described it using nine specimens collected from the deep waters off India’s southwestern coast.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Issue/Event: Scientists described a new electric ray species, Tetronarce ramanamurthyi, from the southeastern Arabian Sea.
Location: India
Authority/Organisation: Zoological Survey of India and the Ministry of Earth Sciences’ Deep Ocean Mission.
Action Taken: Researchers examined nine specimens and used anatomical characteristics and mitochondrial DNA analysis to establish the species as distinct.
Impact: The finding marks the first confirmed record of the genus Tetronarce in the northern Indian Ocean and adds to scientific knowledge of deep-sea biodiversity.
The discovery represents the first confirmed record of the genus Tetronarce in the northern Indian Ocean, according to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The ZSI announced the finding on October 27, 2026.
The scientific study was published earlier, on October 19, in volume 5890, issue 4 of the international taxonomy journal Zootaxa. The paper, titled “Tetronarce ramanamurthyi sp. nov. (Torpediniformes: Torpedinidae), a new species of electric ray from the southeastern Arabian Sea, northern Indian Ocean,” was authored by K. K. Bineesh, Anil Kasinath and David A. Ebert.
The researchers identified the species through a combination of anatomical examination and molecular analysis. Its distinguishing features include a uniformly dark bluish-black to dark-brown upper surface, a disc wider than its length, relatively small electric organs and the absence of papillae around the spiracles.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
The deep sea remains one of the less explored marine environments. Scientific identification of species in these habitats helps build a clearer picture of the biodiversity present in Indian waters. The discovery is significant because it establishes the first confirmed record of the genus Tetronarce in the northern Indian Ocean. This provides a new reference point for marine taxonomists studying electric rays and their distribution. The use of both anatomical examination and DNA sequencing also demonstrates the value of combining traditional taxonomy with molecular research. These methods can help distinguish closely related species and improve the accuracy of biodiversity records. The findings may support future research into the distribution and biology of electric rays in the Arabian Sea. However, the study does not establish whether the newly described species is threatened or how large its population may be. Those questions require additional ecological and population research.
The study also recorded 99 vertebrae in the specimens examined. DNA sequencing of mitochondrial COI and ND2 genes supported the identification of the ray as a distinct evolutionary lineage. The paper reports genetic divergence in the COI analysis ranging from 2.2 per cent to 6.7 per cent when compared with related species.
The research was carried out under the Ministry of Earth Sciences’ Deep Ocean Mission, which supports investigations into deep-sea organisms and their distribution, biology and conservation status in Indian waters.
The study was led by Dr K. K. Bineesh, Scientist E, and Anil Kasinath, Junior Research Fellow, from ZSI’s Marine Biology Regional Centre in Chennai. They worked in collaboration with Dr David A. Ebert of the Pacific Shark Research Center at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, San Jose State University, United States.
The species name honours Dr M. V. Ramana Murthy, Mission Director of the Deep Ocean Mission, in recognition of his contributions to marine science, ocean engineering and marine hazard mitigation in India.
The discovery highlights how scientific examination of deep-sea specimens can reveal marine species that may previously have remained undocumented in a region. Deep-sea habitats are difficult to study, and further research is needed to establish the distribution, ecology and conservation requirements of newly described species.
The identification of Tetronarce ramanamurthyi provides a new scientific reference for the genus in the northern Indian Ocean. It also adds to the baseline information available for future studies of the Arabian Sea’s deep-water biodiversity.
