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Environment › Biodiversity · Environment › Conservation & Mitigation

New Species of ‘Shadow’ Damselfly Discovered in Kodagu’s Western Ghats 

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Why in the News?

A new damselfly species, Protosticta sooryaprakashi, commonly called the Kodagu Shadowdamsel, has been discovered in the Western Ghats, Karnataka. The finding underscores the rich but still understudied biodiversity of the region.

Species Details

  • Common Name: Kodagu Shadowdamsel
  • Scientific Name: Protosticta sooryaprakashi
  • Family: Platystictidae (Shadowdamsels)

Discovery Location

  • Found along the Sampaje River banks (Kodagu District)
  • Also observed in Agumbe high-altitude forests
  • Habitat: Shaded, riparian vegetation in the Western Ghats

Distinctive Features

  • Males show a sky-blue marking on the prothorax (behind the head).
  • Body: Dark brown to black, unlike the crimson thorax of the related Protosticta sanguinostigma.
  • Unique genital ligula: Tip shaped like a duck’s head (important taxonomic marker).
  • Smaller, more delicate, with weak fluttering flight.
In which of the following states is the lion-tailed macaque found in its natural habitat? (2013)

1. Tamil Nadu 

2. Kerala 

3. Karnataka 

4. Andhra Pradesh 

Select the correct answer using the codes given below. 

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 2 only (c) 1, 3 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, and 3

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