New
dragonfly species discovered in Kerala
¨
Kerala has once again
surprised scientists with its rich biodiversity. Researchers have formally
described a new dragonfly species, Liriothemis keralensis, from the Western
Ghats region of the state.
¨
This discovery not only
highlights Kerala's rich but still underexplored biodiversity, but also draws
attention to conservation concerns in human-altered landscapes such as
plantations.
¨
This species has now been
officially recorded in the scientific literature, adding another unique member
to India's growing list of endemic insect species.
What is Liriothemis keralensis?
¨
Lariothemis keralensis is
a newly identified dragonfly species belonging to the order Odonata.
¨
The word
"keralensis" in its name refers to its place of origin, the state of
Kerala. It is considered an endemic species, meaning it is found only in this
particular geographical region.
¨ This discovery is another important contribution to India's rich insect diversity and further strengthens Kerala's biological richness.
¨ Dragonflies are considered important ecological indicators because they reflect the health of freshwater ecosystems.
