CUSAT-led team establishes new genus and species of microscopic crustacean from Kavaratti lagoon

Exam-focused facts from the 21 January 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

The crustacean belongs to the family Laophontidae within the Copepoda class.
Named Indiaphonte bijoyi, the generic name honours India and the species name commemorates S. Bijoy Nandan, Dean, Faculty of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT).
Females range from 518 to 772 micrometres in body length; males from 508 to 756 micrometres.
As meiofauna, these organisms produce omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA essential for fish and shellfish growth and human nutrition.
Harpacticoid copepods serve as reliable bio-indicators of pollution, oil spills, heavy metals and climate change.