rare eel found in well

Jittery villagers relieved as scientists detect eel- like fish in well

T. Nandakumar

A team of herpetology scientists from the University of Kerala and the Central University, Kasargode has reported the discovery of a rare eel- like fish surviving in subterranean water sources. CSIR Emeritus Scientist Dr.Oommen V.Oommen and his team found the eels in an open well in the premises of a house at Irinjalakuda in Thrissur district. Rattled by the constant presence of what seemed to be small snakes in the water, the distraught family had abandoned the well. “It was disgusting to see the writhing creatures in the water drawn from the well. We could not bring ourselves to use the water for cooking. Repeated flushing and treatment of the water with lime failed to solve the problem. Months later, we finally abandoned the well and informed the scientists”, says T.K.Sarafuddin, the house owner’s brother who lives next door.

The scientists who expected to find caecilians (limbless amphibians) in the well discovered Synbranchid eels instead. Villagers interviewed by the investigating team said the snakes had reappeared after every course of lime treatment and cleaning.

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