Overview
- The specimen was collected at a depth of about 390 metres off the Kollam coast in India.
- Measuring 45 cm in dorsal mantle length, it belongs to the octopus-squid family Octopoteuthidae, whose adults lack long feeding tentacles.
- Genetic analysis showed more than 11% divergence from the Atlantic species Taningia danae, establishing it as distinct.
- The study, published in the journal Marine Biodiversity, was led by CMFRI scientists Geetha Sasikumar and Sajikumar K.K., with researchers Shijin Ameri and Toji Thomas.
- The species was named in honour of the late E.G. Silas, and CMFRI says the find strengthens India’s deep-sea biodiversity record and informs squid evolutionary research.