A tiny crustacean found in the Kavaratti lagoon of the Lakshadweep islands has been named a new genus and species, Indiaphonte bijoyi. It belongs to the Laophontidae family of the Copepoda class and is so small that scientists can only study it under a microscope. The name Indiaphonte honours India, while the species name bijoyi is after S. Bijoy Nandan, a marine science expert and former vice-chancellor. Researcher Neelima Vasu K. from Cochin University and Mexican professor Samuel E. Gómez-Noguera described this species in the journal Zootaxa. Indiaphonte bijoyi has a semi-cylindrical body, wider in the middle and narrow at the end, with antenna-like parts at the front. Females measure 518 to 772 micrometres long; males are 508 to 756 micrometres. These crustaceans belong to meiofauna, tiny animals less than 1 mm that live in water sediments and support marine ecosystems. The Laophontidae family has about 350 species in 77 genera. Harpacticoid copepods, like this new species, help produce omega-3 fatty acids vital for fish growth and human nutrition. They also serve as bio-indicators for pollution and climate change effects and are widely used as live fish feed in aquaculture. Indiaphonte is a new genus because its features do not match any known genus in its family. The species name honors Dr. Bijoy Nandan’s many contributions to marine science. This discovery highlights the rich biodiversity of India's marine life.