What Happened
- A new dragonfly species, Lyriothemis keralensis, commonly named the Slender Bombardier, has been formally described from Kerala after a decade-long taxonomic investigation.
- The species was first observed in 2013 near Varappetty in Ernakulam district but had been misidentified for over ten years as Lyriothemis acigastra, a species previously thought restricted to northeast India.
- A research team led by Dr Dattaprasad Sawant, Dr A. Vivek Chandran, Renjith Jacob Mathews, and Dr Krushnamegh Kunte published the formal description in the International Journal of Odonatology.
- The identification was confirmed through microscopic analysis of morphological traits including uniquely shaped anal appendages and genitalia, along with examination of century-old museum specimens.
- The species inhabits human-modified agricultural landscapes, specifically shaded irrigation canals and seasonal pools within rubber and pineapple plantations, rather than protected forests.
Static Topic Bridges
Order Odonata: Dragonflies and Damselflies
Odonata is an order of carnivorous insects comprising dragonflies (suborder Anisoptera) and damselflies (suborder Zygoptera). They are among the oldest flying insects, with a fossil record extending over 300 million years. Odonates are important bioindicators of freshwater ecosystem health because their aquatic larvae are highly sensitive to water quality, dissolved oxygen levels, and habitat disturbance.
- India hosts over 488 species and 27 subspecies of Odonata across 154 genera and 18 families
- Suborder Anisoptera (dragonflies): 276 species under 94 genera and 8 families in India
- Suborder Zygoptera (damselflies): 211 species under 59 genera and 9 families in India
- Family Libellulidae (to which Lyriothemis keralensis belongs) is the largest dragonfly family globally, with over 1,000 species; it is also the most species-rich dragonfly family in the Western Ghats with 49 recorded species
- IUCN assessment of Indian odonates: 281 species classified as Least Concern, 164 as Data Deficient, and 1 species (Protosticta myristicaensis) as Critically Endangered
Connection to this news: Lyriothemis keralensis belongs to the family Libellulidae under suborder Anisoptera. Its formal description adds to India's documented Odonata diversity and demonstrates that significant taxonomic gaps persist, with many species still awaiting identification or remaining misidentified under closely related taxa.
Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot
The Western Ghats is one of the 36 globally recognized biodiversity hotspots, stretching approximately 1,600 km along India's western coast through six states (Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu). Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012, the region supports exceptionally high levels of endemism across multiple taxa.
- The Western Ghats host approximately 207 Odonata species, of which around 80 are endemic to the region
- Endemic odonates are primarily restricted to riverine habitats such as montane streams and rivers, making them vulnerable to damming, channel diversion, sand mining, and pollution
- The Gadgil Committee (Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel, 2011) classified the region into Ecologically Sensitive Zones (ESZ 1, 2, and 3); the Kasturirangan Committee (2013) recommended 37% of the Western Ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Area
- The region harbours over 7,402 species of flowering plants (of which about 2,500 are endemic), 508 bird species, 179 amphibian species (65% endemic), and 157 reptile species
Connection to this news: The discovery of L. keralensis in Kerala's Ernakulam district reinforces the Western Ghats' status as a centre of undiscovered biodiversity. The species' occurrence in agricultural rather than forested habitats suggests that Western Ghats endemism extends beyond protected forests into human-modified landscapes.
Conservation Beyond Protected Areas
Conventional wildlife conservation strategies in India focus on Protected Areas (PAs) such as National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves, and Community Reserves established under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. However, a substantial proportion of India's biodiversity exists outside the formal PA network. India's PA network covers approximately 5.26% of the country's geographical area (as of 2024), leaving the majority of habitats without formal protection status.
- India has 106 National Parks, 567 Wildlife Sanctuaries, 105 Conservation Reserves, and 220 Community Reserves
- The Convention on Biological Diversity's Global Biodiversity Framework (Kunming-Montreal, 2022) sets a target of 30% land and 30% ocean protection by 2030 (the "30x30" target)
- Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) recognize conservation outcomes in areas outside the formal PA network, including sacred groves, community forests, and sustainably managed agricultural landscapes
- Agro-biodiversity conservation recognizes that traditional farming landscapes can support significant species diversity
Connection to this news: Lyriothemis keralensis thrives in rubber and pineapple plantations rather than in protected forest sanctuaries. Its entire known population exists outside India's Protected Area network. This underscores the need for conservation strategies that extend beyond forests to include agro-ecosystems and plantation landscapes where species depend on irrigation infrastructure and seasonal water bodies.
Taxonomy and Species Discovery in India
Taxonomy is the branch of biology concerned with classification, naming, and description of organisms. Formal species description follows the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN), requiring published descriptions in peer-reviewed journals with designated type specimens. Cryptic species (morphologically similar but genetically distinct species) and misidentified populations represent a significant challenge in documenting true biodiversity.
- India is one of 17 megadiverse countries, harbouring approximately 8% of the world's recorded species
- The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), established in 1916 and headquartered in Kolkata, is the primary organization for animal taxonomy in India
- Botanical Survey of India (BSI) handles plant taxonomy
- New species descriptions frequently emerge from the Western Ghats, Northeast India, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, all regions with high endemism and historical under-sampling
Connection to this news: L. keralensis was misidentified as L. acigastra for over a decade, illustrating how cryptic species can remain hidden within already-known taxa. The decade-long investigation combining field observations with century-old museum specimens demonstrates the continued importance of classical morphological taxonomy alongside modern molecular methods.
Key Facts & Data
- Lyriothemis keralensis (Slender Bombardier): new dragonfly species formally described from Kerala in 2026
- Family: Libellulidae; Order: Odonata; Suborder: Anisoptera
- Size: approximately 3 cm in length
- Sexual dimorphism: males have deep blood-red abdomen with black markings; females display yellow and black colouration with broader bodies
- Habitat: shaded irrigation canals and seasonal pools in rubber and pineapple plantations near Varappetty, Ernakulam district, Kerala
- Adults visible only during Southwest monsoon (May-August); remainder of lifecycle spent as aquatic larvae
- Previously misidentified as Lyriothemis acigastra (a species of northeast India) since 2013
- Published in: International Journal of Odonatology
- India's Odonata diversity: 488+ species across 154 genera and 18 families
- Western Ghats Odonata: approximately 207 species, of which about 80 are endemic
- Libellulidae: largest dragonfly family globally with over 1,000 species