Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Researchers have confirmed the discovery of a new species of dragonfly, Lyriothemis keralensis, from the low-lying coastal regions of Kerala. Commonly called the Slender Bombardier, the species was formally identified after more than ten years of research, according to news agency PTI.The breakthrough study was carried out by a team led by Dr Dattaprasad Sawant, Dr A Vivek Chandran, Renjith Jacob Mathews and Dr Krushnamegh Kunte, and has been published in the International Journal of Odonatology.
Initially mistaken for a known species
The dragonfly was first spotted in 2013 in the Varappetty area of Kothamangalam. At the time, scientists believed it belonged to Lyriothemis acigastra, also known as the Little Bloodtail, a species commonly found in northeast India.Detailed examination in later years, however, showed that the Kerala specimen had distinct physical and behavioural features, prompting researchers to classify it as a separate species.
Distinct physical features set it apart
According to the research paper, Lyriothemis keralensis differs from the Little Bloodtail in several ways. It has a slimmer abdomen along with a unique tail and genital structure.Male dragonflies have a deep blood-red abdomen with black markings, while females are slightly broader and display yellow and black colouring. The species measures about three centimetres in length and was also confirmed through the study of century-old museum specimens.
Thrives in plantations, not forests
Unlike many dragonfly species, Lyriothemis keralensis does not inhabit protected forest areas. Instead, it thrives in human-modified irrigation landscapes such as pineapple and rubber plantations.Researchers found it mainly in shaded canals and seasonal pools within agricultural land, making its habitat preference unusual and highly specific.
Call to rethink conservation priorities
Researcher Vivek Chandran stressed the need to broaden conservation efforts beyond forests. “It is crucial that our actions for the preservation of biodiversity do not focus solely on forests,” he said, as quoted by PTI, adding that odonates occupy a wide range of habitats, including human-dominated areas.The species appears during the monsoon season and retreats once the rains subside. Since its survival depends on fragile microhabitats outside national parks, researchers warned that its future rests largely on human responsibility and the protection of local ecosystems within farmlands.
