Rare Tiny 3-mm Crab Found In Lakshadweep Reefs, Named After Indian Marine Biologist T Balasubramanian

Last Updated:February 14, 2026, 12:24 IST

Galathea balasubramaniani, a tiny crab species discovered in Agatti Island coral reefs by NBFGR, Kochi, highlights Lakshadweep’s marine diversity.

Scientists have identified an extremely small crab species—barely three millimetres long and smaller than a grain of rice—in the coral reefs around Agatti Island in Lakshadweep. The discovery was made by researchers from the National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR), Kochi, which functions under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

The newly recorded species has been named Galathea balasubramaniani to honour noted marine biologist T Balasubramanian, former director and dean of the Faculty of Marine Sciences at Annamalai University and former vice-chancellor of the Chettinad Research Academy, recognising his work in the field of marine sciences.

The research team, headed by TT Ajith Kumar, examined the animal’s body structure in detail and compared it with related species found across the Indo-Pacific region. Genetic testing later confirmed that it was indeed a separate species. The study has been published in the international taxonomy journal Zootaxa and was authored by B Surendiran, P R Divya, Mohammed Naeem, A Sundaramanickam and Ajith Kumar. Sundaramanickam is associated with the Department of Marine Sciences at Annamalai University.

The crab belongs to the genus Galathea, a group of reef-dwelling anomuran crabs commonly called squat lobsters. Though they resemble miniature lobsters, they usually remain hidden inside coral formations and rocky gaps. These creatures are considered important to reef health as they recycle organic matter and form part of the marine food chain.

Ajith Kumar told The New Indian Express that the species is distinct from its nearest relative, G. mauritiana, in the design of its legs and several other body features, along with clear genetic differences. He added that the finding highlights how much of Lakshadweep’s marine life still remains unexplored.

Researchers pointed out that while 34 anomuran species have previously been recorded in the Lakshadweep islands, none belonged to the galatheid squat lobster group. They said this makes detailed taxonomic studies in the region particularly important, especially focusing on anomurans.

The specimen has been preserved in the National Repository of Aquatic Organisms maintained by NBFGR in Lucknow for future scientific reference.

Kajal Chakrobarty, director of NBFGR, told The New Indian Express that discoveries such as this underline the need to conserve fragile coral reef ecosystems.

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