Protosticta sholai
Male
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Odonata
Family:
Platystictidae
Genus:
Protosticta
Species:
P. sholai
Binomial name
Protosticta sholai
Subramanian & Babu, 2020

Protosticta sholai[1] is a damselfly species in the family Platystictidae. It is endemic to southern Western Ghats in India. The species is named sholai considering the local name of its habitat, montane evergreen forests of South Western Ghats.[1]

The genus Protosticta has fifteen species reported from India, of which twelve are known from Western Ghats.[1][2][3]

It is a black damselfly with blue eyes. Its thorax is black, marked with yellow stripes. Wings are transparent with dark brown pterostigma. Its abdomen is black, marked with yellow. Segments 1 and 2 are yellow laterally. Segments 3 to 8 are with broad yellow basal annules. Segment 8 is with its sides yellow in addition to the basal annule. Segments 9 has yellow spot, laterally. Segment 10 is unmarked. Anal appendages are black with dark brown apices. Female is very similar to the male, but shorter and more robustly built.[1]

This species can be distinguished from other Protosticta species based on its blue eyes. It can be distinguished from P. monticola by the presence of extensive yellow markings on abdominal segments 8–9 and eye coloration. P. monticola has dorsum of abdominal segments 8–9 metallic black and black capped bluish-green eyes.[1][4]

This species was first observed at Upper Manalar, Meghamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu. Later it is found in Periyar National Park, Kerala too.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Joshi, Shantanu; Subramanian, K. A.; Babu, R.; Sawant, Dattaprasad; Kunte, Krushnamegh (2020). "Three new species of Protosticta Selys, 1885 (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platystictidae) from the Western Ghats, India, with taxonomic notes on P. mortoni Fraser, 1922 and rediscovery of P. rufostigma Kimmins, 1958". Zootaxa. Magnolia Press, Auckland, New Zealand. 4858 (2): 151–185. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4858.2.1. PMID 33056228. S2CID 222837723.
  2. ↑ C FC Lt. Fraser (1933). The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma, Odonata Vol. I. Red Lion Court, Fleet Street, London: Taylor and Francis.
  3. ↑ Subramanian, K. A. (2005). Dragonflies and Damselflies of Peninsular India - A Field Guide.
  4. ↑ Emiliyamma, K.G.; M. J. Palot (2016). "A new species of Protosticta Selys, 1885 (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platystictidae) from Western Ghats, Kerala, India". Journal of Threatened Taxa. 8 (14): 9648–9652. doi:10.11609/jott.3226.8.14.9648-9652. Retrieved 2017-03-14.


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