Description of Phylloneura rupestris sp. n. (Odonata, Platycnemididae) from the Western Ghats, India, with notes on its reproductive behaviour

A new species of Ceylonosticta (Odonata: Platystictidae) from the Peak Wilderness Mountain Range of Sri Lanka 00

Amila P. Sumanapalaa ✉️ , T. Saminda Fernandob, Tharindu Ranasinghec, Mayuri R. Wijesinghea, Devaka K. Weerakoona

  1. Department of Zoology and Environment Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
  2. Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, The Open University of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka
  3. Wild Island Foundation, 6A, Mendis Lane, Moratuwa, 10400, Sri Lanka

International Journal of Odonatology, Volume 28, Pages 61-70, 2025

https://doi.org/10.48156/1388.2025.1917322

Published: 18 July 2025 (Received: 1 April 2025, Accepted: 7 July 2025)

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Abstract

The genus Ceylonosticta is represented by 22 species distributed mainly in the wet lowlands and Central highlands of Sri Lanka. The present work describes another new species from this region. Ceylonosticta sripadensis sp. n. is restricted to the Peak Wilderness Mountain range and can be distinguished from its congeners by the shape of the caudal appendages of the male and prothorax details. Distinct backward directed setae on the posterior lobe of the prothorax of both sexes are especially characteristic. Phylogenetic analysis using mitochondrial 16S and COI genes indicates that the species is a member of the Ceylonosticta mojca species group. The discovery highlights the need for further taxonomic work on Ceylonosticta and the conservation importance of the Peak Wilderness Mountain Range of Sri Lanka.

https://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:5DC6D9FB-25A5-4B20-A572-14F36746491B

Keywords: Damselfly, dragonfly, Zygoptera, endemic, range-restricted

Issue section: Original Article

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