Two new species of cobia fish have been discovered off the coast of Gwadar, according to a recently published study in “Zoologischer Anzeiger”.
Dr. Sher Khan Panhwar. Dr. Panhwar, a professor at Karachi University’s Center of Excellence in Marine Biology and co-author of the study, made the discovery during a routine survey of the Gwadar fish harbor with his students.
The survey was initially part of a broader research effort on “Rachycentron canadum”, commonly known as black king cobia, a commercially significant fish found worldwide. However, the discovery of these distinct species shifted the focus of their study.
After identifying the unusual fish, Dr. Panhwar and his team acquired the specimens from local fishermen. The specimens were preserved on ice and transported 650 kilometers to a laboratory for detailed analysis. The findings confirmed subtle yet consistent differences, leading the researchers to identify them as two distinct species.
One species was named the Blotchy Cobia, in reference to its large grey blotches and as a tribute to the Balochi language of the region. The other was named the Makran Cobia, after the Makran coast where it was found.
“These new species of cobia have so far been observed only in Pakistan,” Dr. Panhwar said, highlighting the significance of the discovery.
