New Dragonfly Species, Lyriothemis Abrahami, Discovered in Kerala

Quick Summary

• A new dragonfly species, lyriothemis abrahami, was discovered in Kerala’s Western Ghats by a team of researchers after a decade-long study.
• Previously misidentified as Lyriothemis flava, the discovery involved extensive fieldwork, larval rearing, and multi-round peer reviews published in the journal Entomon.
• Researchers included members from Travancore Nature History Society (TNHS), Zoological Survey of India, and other institutions.
• The first observation occurred during a 2013 trek; subsequent sightings between 2013 and 2025 were rare, with only four documented instances.
• In 2022, larvae were found in tree holes enabling controlled rearing efforts; mature specimens needed for classification were collected by 2025 from locations like Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary and Ponmudi.
• The dragonfly displays distinct male-female dimorphism and breeds exclusively in small water pools within tree holes across rainforests between elevations of 50 m to 1,100 m above sea level.
• Kerala now possesses a total of 191 odonate species with the Western Ghats recognized as highly biodiverse globally.
• Researchers stressed conserving microhabitats like tree holes critical to L. abrahami’s lifecycle.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The discovery of Lyriothemis abrahami highlights both scientific persistence and the ecological importance of India’s Western Ghats.Documenting such elusive species underscores the region’s biodiversity richness but also points toward potential threats stemming from habitat loss. Tree holes-essential breeding sites for this dragonfly-serve not only as markers for forest health but also emphasize conservation needs at microhabitat levels.

The increased count of endemic odonate species reinforces India’s position as a global biodiversity hotspot while placing greater obligation on stakeholders to sustain fragile ecosystems against anthropogenic pressures.continuing studies on evolutionary biology could further shed light on how these creatures adapt within specialized environments-a necessary step toward holistic conservation planning that benefits broader ecological networks.

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