ZSI names a newly discovered head-shield sea slug after President Droupadi Murmu

The Zoological Survey of India named a new marine species of head-shield sea slug with ruby red spot which was discovered from West Bengal and Odisha coast after President of India Droupadi Murmu. The new species of head-shield sea slug, which is found nowhere in the world, is named as Melanochlamys droupadi. Species of the genus Melanochlamys are characterised morphologically by a short, blunt and cylindrical body and a smooth dorsal surface with two dorsal equal or unequal shields, named the anterior cephalic and posterior shield In a statement, Dhriti Banerjee, ZSI director, said, “The species was confirmed by examination of morphological, anatomical and molecular characteristics. A scientific paper published by ZSI researchers Prasad Chandra Tudu, Sheikh Sajan, Smrutirekha Acharya and Anil Mohapatra says live Melanochlamys droupadi animals continuously secrete transparent mucus to form a sheath that prevents sand grains from entering parapodial space.