❖ Scientists have discovered a new species of snake eel from different estuarine ecosystems of Odisha

❖ The new species is named 'Ophichthus Suryai' to honour Surya Kumar Mohanty, former joint director of state fishery department.

❖ The new species has also distinction from its closely allied congeners Ophichthus alleni, Ophichthus zophistius, and Ophichthus altipennis.

❖ The species was found in the Chilika lagoon, Asia’s biggest brackish water lagoon.