Ghost of the Seafloor: Elusive Cusk Eel Turns Up 5,500 Kilometers From Its

Researchers have documented the blackedge cusk, Ophidion muraenolepis, in the Laccadive Sea for the first time, extending the species’ verified range about 5,500 kilometers farther west than any prior record. Published in Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria, the finding represents a first for India and the westernmost occurrence of the species anywhere in the Indo-west Pacific region. Four specimens were collected in November 2023 after appearing as by-catch from commercial trawlers at the Sakthikulangara Landing Centre near Kollam in Kerala. The fish measured about 183 to 202 millimeters standard length and were deposited in ICAR’s National Fish Repository in Lucknow for future study.