Rameswaram: Researchers at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) have found a rare bandtail scorpionfish (Scorpaenospsis Neglecta) off the Sethukarai coast in the Gulf of Mannar.
It is the first time this rare marine species has been found live in the Indian waters.
Camouflaged within the seagrass meadows, scorpionfish which is well-known for stinging venomous spines and an ability to change colour, was found during an underwater exploratory survey of the sea grass ecosystem in the region by the Kochi headquartered CMFRI scientists.
R Jeyabaskaran, senior CMFRI scientist who led a team of researchers in finding the fish, said that during the underwater survey, this species was first sighted as a coral skeleton.
"On first look, its appearance was totally confusing as to whether it was a fish at all or fossilised coral skeleton covered with bivalve shells. It started changing its colour the moment we touched it with a dead coral fragment. It was noticed that within four seconds, the fish skin changed from white to mottled black," said Jeyabaskaran.
"Immediately after it was caught by hand using zip-lock polyethylene bag, the fish flashed its pectoral fins with their inner sides displaying bright yellow colour with black-band margin," he added.