Who is Dr M. V. Ramana Murthy? An IIT Madras alumnus honoured after a new electric ray species discovered deep in the Arabian Sea has been named after him

A newly discovered electric ray from the deep waters of the Arabian Sea has been named after Dr M. V. Ramana Murthy, an ocean engineer whose career has included coastal research, marine technology and ocean development in India.

The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) announced the discovery of Tetronarce ramanamurthyi, commonly known as the Arabian Black Electric Ray, on October 27, 2026. The species was named in recognition of Murthy's contributions to marine science, ocean engineering and marine hazard mitigation.

Murthy is the Mission Director of India's Deep Ocean Mission under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. He has held scientific and leadership positions at several institutions associated with ocean research, including the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) and the Centre for Marine Living Resources & Ecology (CMLRE).

Who is Dr M. V. Ramana Murthy?

Murthy is an Indian ocean engineer and coastal scientist who began his academic training in civil engineering before specialising in ocean engineering.

He earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Nagarjuna University in Andhra Pradesh and a master's degree in planning from CEPT University in Ahmedabad. He later completed master's and doctoral degrees in ocean engineering at IIT Madras. His doctorate was awarded in January 2008, according to his professional biography.

Before joining ocean research institutions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Murthy worked in the engineering sector, including at Visakhapatnam Port Trust and Engineers India Ltd.

He joined the Integrated Coastal and Marine Area Management Project Directorate in Chennai in 1999. He subsequently moved to NIOT, where his work included ocean structures and island desalination. In June 2016, he became Director of the National Centre for Coastal Research. He also served as Director of CMLRE for a period in 2020.

Why was the new electric ray named after him?

The ZSI named Tetronarce ramanamurthyi after Murthy in recognition of his contributions to marine science, ocean engineering and marine hazard mitigation.

The discovery was led by Dr K. K. Bineesh, Scientist E, and Anil Kasinath, Junior Research Fellow, at ZSI's Marine Biology Regional Centre in Chennai. They collaborated with Dr David A. Ebert of the Pacific Shark Research Center at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, San Jose State University, in the United States.

Scientists described the new species using nine specimens collected off India's southwestern coast. Its distinguishing characteristics include a dark bluish-black to dark-brown upper surface, a disc wider than it is long, the absence of papillae around the spiracles and relatively large endolymphatic pores.

DNA sequencing of mitochondrial COI and ND2 genes supported its identification as a distinct evolutionary lineage. The COI analysis found genetic divergence ranging from 2.2% compared with T. tokionis to 6.7% compared with T. nobiliana.

The findings were published in the international taxonomy journal Zootaxa. The discovery also marks the first confirmed record of the genus Tetronarce in the northern Indian Ocean.

Murthy's work in coastal research and marine technology

Murthy's research has covered coastal processes, ocean engineering, marine infrastructure, desalination and coastal hazard management.

At NIOT, he worked on ocean structures and desalination projects for islands. Desalination involves removing salts from seawater to produce water for uses such as drinking, after appropriate treatment.

His professional profile also lists projects involving beach restoration in Puducherry and Kadalur Periyakuppam, offshore wind development in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, and urban flood warning systems for Mumbai and Chennai.

His areas of specialisation include coastal and offshore hydrodynamics, wave-structure interaction, coastal process modelling, tsunami and storm surge impacts, urban flooding, port and harbour structures, and marine spatial planning.

These fields involve studying how waves and currents affect coastlines and infrastructure, how coastal environments respond to natural hazards, and how engineering measures can be used in ports, harbours and coastal protection projects.

According to his professional biography, Murthy has published more than 100 papers in national and international journals and conference proceedings. He has also prepared more than 20 technical reports and delivered more than 50 talks at workshops and international working groups.

Awards and professional roles

Murthy received the Ministry of Earth Sciences' National Award of Excellence in Ocean Technology in 2021. His professional profile also lists the National Geo Science Award in 2010 and recognition for contributions to disaster management.

He served as president of the Ocean Society of India from 2016 to 2018 and has participated in national research committees and professional bodies associated with ocean engineering and coastal management.

The Ministry of Earth Sciences announced his superannuation as Director of NCCR on May 30, 2025. He become the Mission Director of the Deep Ocean Mission in October 2026, this month, as per ZSI's announcement.

His role in India's Deep Ocean Mission

The Deep Ocean Mission, launched under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, focuses on deep-sea exploration, marine biodiversity and the development of technologies for ocean research.

The discovery of Tetronarce ramanamurthyi was carried out under the mission's work on the taxonomy, distribution, biology and status of cartilaginous fishes in Indian waters.

The research team said combining traditional physical identification methods with modern molecular tools can help scientists identify previously undocumented marine species and clarify their evolutionary relationships.

The newly described ray adds to the documented biodiversity of the northern Indian Ocean and provides a basis for further research into deep-sea marine life.