Indian Scientists Discover New Octopus-Like Species

Scientists from the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) have discovered a new species of deep-sea squid in the Arabian Sea. The scientific name of this species is Taningia silasi, also referred to as the Indian octopus squid. This marks the second confirmed species of the rare genus Taningia worldwide. The discovery has been formally described in the international journal Marine Biodiversity.

The specimen was collected from a depth of approximately 390 meters off the Kollam coast. The squid, measuring 45 cm in length, belongs to the family Octopoteuthidae. Adults of this species are known for the distinctive absence of certain tentacles, although they are true deep-sea squids.

The research was led by Principal Scientist Dr. Geetha Shashikumar and Technical Officer Sajikumar K. K. Geetha explained, “Until now, Taningia danae, found in Atlantic waters, was the only known species of this genus. DNA barcoding showed more than 11% genetic divergence compared to the Atlantic species, confirming that this is indeed a separate species.”