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New Damselfly Species 'Euphaea wayanadensis' Recently Discovered in Kerala.

Environment | Dated: 04 Apr 2025

In April 2025, a group of scientists have discovered a new species of damselfly named Euphaea wayanadensis in the Wayanad landscape of the Western Ghats, Kerala. The discovery of the new species was published in the peer-reviewed journal ENTOMON.

🎯 Key Highlights:

  • - This species marks the 191st recorded odonate species (including dragonflies and damselflies) found in Kerala and the 223rd one to be documented from the Western Ghats.
  • - The newly discovered species belongs to the Euphaeidae family and was identified using integrated taxonomy methods.
  • - Initially, the new species' features had been misidentified as Euphaea pseudodispar, a species described from Maharashtra. But later, the study found that the new species exhibits various morphological differences from Euphaea pseudodispar like: longer black hind wing patch, wider and uninterrupted humeral and antehumeral stripes in males, among others.

💡 Other Important Facts:

  • (i) The new species is observed throughout the year, except during the months of March and April.
  • (ii) In 2013, a group of researchers first observed the distinct morphotype of Euphaea wayanadensis at the Kalindi River, Thirunelli in Wayanad district (Kerala).

📚 Test Your Knowledge:

Which new species of damselfly has been recently discovered in the Wayanad region of Kerala?

Correct Answer: Euphaea wayanadensis

🚀 Quick Recap: