Description of Protosticta armageddonia sp. nov. (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platystictidae) from the Western Ghats of India

Arajush Payraa , Reji Chandranb , Ameya Deshpandec , Pankaj Koparded ,

  1. Department of Environmental Studies, Dr. Vishwanath Karad MIT World Peace University, Kothrud, Pune, Maharashtra 411038, India
  2. Society for Odonate Studies, Vellooparampil, Kuzhimattom PO, Kottayam, Kerala 686533, India
  3. Department of Environmental Studies, Dr. Vishwanath Karad MIT World Peace University, Kothrud, Pune, Maharashtra 411038, India
  4. Department of Environmental Studies, Dr. Vishwanath Karad MIT World Peace University, Kothrud, Pune, Maharashtra 411038, India

International Journal of Odonatology, Volume 26, Pages 93-102, 2023
https://doi.org/10.48156/1388.2023.1917043
Published: 28 August 2023 (Received: 14 January 2023, Accepted: 9 August 2023)

Abstract

A new species of Protosticta Selys, 1885 is described based on specimens collected from Kerala, northeast of Thiruvananthapuram, in the southern parts of the southern Western Ghats of India. Protosticta armageddonia sp. nov. is compared with all other known Protosticta species of the Western Ghats to provide comprehensive differential diagnosis. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of characters, including a marking on the ventral side of thorax, structure, and colour of the prothorax, markings on the 8th abdominal segment, and the structure of caudal appendages and genital ligula. Furthermore, we provide preliminary information on the ecology and natural history of the new species.
https://zoobank.org/NomenclaturalActs/4a3077f6-b9c5-4dbf-8bc0-3e8c3ad9d22c

Keywords: Damselfly, biodiversity hotspot, climate change, ecological armageddon, endemic, montane ecosystem

Issue section: Original Article