New Dragonfly Species ‘Lyriothemis abrahami’ Discovered in Western Ghats and Gecko Species Found in Assam.
Environment
In June 2025, researchers from Kerala-based Travancore Nature History Society (TNHS), along with partner institutions, identified a new dragonfly species named Lyriothemis abrahami in the Western Ghats. The species was earlier mistaken for Lyriothemis flava due to similar morphological features.
- The discovery of Lyriothemis abrahami was officially published in the entomological journal Entomon. The new species has been named in honour of Abraham Samuel, a pioneering odonatologist from Kerala, to recognise his foundational contributions to the study of dragonflies and damselflies (odonatology) in India.
- The dragonfly species is endemic to the southern and central parts of the Western Ghats, with its habitat spanning across Kerala and Karnataka. It resides in lowland rainforests and mid-elevation evergreen or deciduous forests, ranging between 50 to 1,100 metres above sea level.
- Morphologically, Lyriothemis abrahami exhibits strong sexual dimorphism. Male dragonflies have distinctively shaped hamules (secondary genitalia), while females are completely jet-black with noticeable yellow triangular markings. This species breeds in phytotelmata, which are small water pools found in tree holes.
Main Point :- (i) In a parallel discovery, a new diurnal gecko species named Cnemaspis brahmaputra was also identified in Assam. It was found in the Dirgheswari Temple area on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra River in Guwahati.
(ii) The discovery of Cnemaspis brahmaputra was documented in the journal Taprobanica: The Journal of Asian Biodiversity. It adds to the growing list of endemic herpetofauna in the Northeast region of India, which is known for its unique biodiversity.
(iii) Both findings emphasize India’s rich ecological heritage and the importance of preserving forest ecosystems in biodiversity hotspots like the Western Ghats and Northeast India. These discoveries highlight ongoing research efforts and the need for taxonomic studies to correctly classify overlooked species.
About Assam:
Chief Minister (CM) : Himanta Biswa Sarma
Governor : Lakshman Prasad Acharya
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