BRUCETHOA ISRO

Copyright infringement not intended

Picture Courtesy: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/new-species-of-deep-sea-isopod-discovered-off-kollam-coast-named-after-isro/article67973305.ece

Context: Scientists discovered Brucethoa isro, a new type of deep-sea creature named after ISRO, living as a parasite on the Spinyjaw greeneye fish, off the coast of Kollam in Kerala.

About  Brucethoa isro

• Researchers discovered the tiny fish-parasitic crustacean in the base of the gill chamber of the Spinyjaw greeneye, a deep-sea marine fish. This newly discovered species belongs to the genus Brucethoa and has been called Brucethoa isro.
• Brucethoa isro is identified by its small size and unique shape.
• Females of the species are larger than males, reaching lengths of around 19 mm and widths of 6 mm, while males are roughly half the size.
• These deep-sea isopods inhabit the gill cavity of the Spinyjaw greeneye, at depths ranging from 250 to 450 metres off the coast of Kerala.
• The recent discovery of Brucethoa isro represents the second species of the Brucethoa genus to be described in India.