Rare Marine Worms Discovered on Digha Coast, Boosts Marine Research

• Two new species of marine worms found on Digha and Bankiput coasts by ZSI and Mexican zoologists.
• The discovery is crucial for studying polychaete worm biodiversity in the North Bay of Bengal.
• First species, Namalycastis solenotognatha, is pollution-tolerant and found in muddy intertidal flats.
• Second species, Nereis dhritiae, named after ZSI's first female Director, Dr. Dhriti Banerjee, lives among wooden dock piles.
• These worms could serve as bio-indicators for monitoring coastal environments due to their presence in human-impacted areas.