Researchers from Agharkar Research Institute have identified a new species of microscopic Foraminifera, highlighting India’s rich but largely unexplored marine biodiversity.

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• Scientists from Agharkar Research Institute, Pune, discovered a new species of Foraminifera named Portatrochammina bharatensis along Maharashtra’s Konkan coast.
• The species was found in marine sediments collected from Jaitapur Creek in Ratnagiri district and was named “bharatensis” after Bharat, the ancient name of India.
• Foraminifera are single-celled marine organisms that have existed in the world’s oceans for more than 500 million years and play an important ecological role.
• Portatrochammina bharatensis measures only 0.3 to 0.5 millimetres and is invisible to the naked eye despite being a vital component of coastal ecosystems.
• The organism builds a protective shell by collecting and cementing tiny quartz sand grains, creating a strong outer covering resistant to harsh environmental conditions.
• Researchers confirmed it as a new species through DNA sequencing of the 18S ribosomal RNA gene, a widely used genetic marker for species identification.
• Genetic analysis showed that the species is closely related to Portatrochammina pacifica and Portatrochammina antarctica but remains genetically distinct.
• The discovery highlights the importance of studying India’s coastal biodiversity and supports future environmental monitoring, conservation planning, and pollution assessment efforts.