New Dragonfly Species Discovered in Western Ghats

• 15 Jul 2025

In last week of June 2025, researchers from the Travancore Nature History Society (TNHS) and partner institutions announced the discovery of a new dragonfly species, Lyriothemis abrahami, in the Western Ghats.

Key Points

• The Discovery: Lyriothemis abrahami was previously misidentified as Lyriothemis flava due to similar external features but was found to be a distinct species through larval rearing and adult morphological analysis.
• Endemic Distribution: The new species is endemic to the southern and central Western Ghats, with known populations in forest landscapes of Kerala and Karnataka, ranging from 50 to 1100 meters above sea level.
• Unique Traits: The species shows strong sexual dimorphism. Males have uniquely shaped hamules (secondary genitalia), while females are jet-black with prominent yellow triangular markings.
• Breeding Habitat: L. abrahami breeds in phytotelmata—small pools of water within tree holes—highlighting the importance of microhabitats like mature tree canopies for forest biodiversity.
• Tribute and Significance: The dragonfly is named in honour of Abraham Samuel, a pioneering odonatologist from Kerala. With this discovery, Kerala’s odonate (dragonfly and damselfly) count rises to 191, including 78 endemic species.