National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR) discovers 3-mm crab Galathea balasubramaniani in Lakshadweep coral reefs

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

Key facts

National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR), Kochi, discovered a 3-mm crab species named Galathea balasubramaniani from Agatti coral reefs in Lakshadweep.
The species belongs to the genus Galathea, reef-dwelling anomuran crabs known as squat lobsters.
The crab was identified through morphological comparison and DNA analysis, and findings published in Zootaxa.
The new species honours T Balasubramanian, former director and dean of Faculty of Marine Sciences at Annamalai University.
Galathea balasubramaniani differs from its closest relative G mauritiana in leg structure and genetic markers.
The specimen has been deposited in the national depository of aquatic organisms maintained by NBFGR at Lucknow.