Environment & Ecology

New deep-sea catshark species 'Apristurus drona' discovered off Kerala's Kollam coast

Monday, 22 June 2026 5 min readSource: The New Indian ExpressArticle 8 of 9

A new species of deep-sea catshark, named Apristurus drona (the 'Arabian slender catshark'), has been discovered in the southeastern Arabian Sea off the Kollam coast of Kerala, near Sakthikulangara harbour. The shark was identified from four specimens — two males and two females measuring between 439 mm and 473 mm — collected from depths of 400 to 650 metres along the Kollam slope. Researchers say the species forms a distinct evolutionary lineage within the genus Apristurus and is closely related to catshark species found in the Pacific Ocean and New Zealand waters, making it a notable addition to India's deep-sea biodiversity record.

Key Facts & Details

8 points

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A new deep-sea catshark species, Apristurus drona ('Arabian slender catshark'), was discovered off Kollam, Kerala.
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It was found in the southeastern Arabian Sea, near Sakthikulangara harbour.
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Described from four specimens (2 male, 2 female), 439–473 mm long, from 400–650 m depth on the Kollam slope.
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It forms a distinct evolutionary lineage in the genus Apristurus.
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It is closely related to catshark species of the Pacific Ocean and New Zealand.

Deep Dive

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Catsharks (family Pentanchidae / Scyliorhinidae) are small, mostly deep-water sharks; the genus Apristurus is among the most species-rich shark genera.
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Deep-sea species discoveries highlight how little of India's continental slope fauna has been documented.
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Such finds strengthen the case for studying and protecting deep-sea ecosystems threatened by bottom trawling.

Exam Focus

What is the name of the new deep-sea catshark species discovered off the Kollam coast, and in which sea was it found?

Exam Relevance & Angle

New species discoveries in Indian waters are popular environment/biodiversity questions; the species name, the genus and the Kerala/Arabian Sea location are exact exam hooks.

Target Exams

SBI POIBPS POSSC CGLSSC CHSLRRB NTPCUPSC CSEState PCS

Background & Context

Catsharks are small, bottom-dwelling sharks; the genus Apristurus, often called ghost or demon catsharks, contains many deep-water species found on continental slopes worldwide. India's Arabian Sea continental slope is a poorly explored, biodiversity-rich zone. New species are typically described from specimens collected during deep-sea trawl surveys and confirmed through morphological and DNA analysis. The discovery of Apristurus drona off Kollam adds to a growing list of new marine species recorded from Indian waters and underscores the scientific value of the country's deep-sea habitats.