Description of Lyriothemis keralensis sp. n. (Odonata: Libellulidae)
from the southwestern coast of India
Description of Lyriothemis keralensis sp. n. (Odonata: Libellulidae) from the southwestern coast of India 00
Dattaprasad Sawanta,b 
, A. Vivek Chandrana,c,d ✉️ , Renjith Jacob Mathewsd , Krushnamegh Kuntee
- Indian Foundation for Butterflies Trust, C-703, Alpine Pyramid Apts, near Canara Bank Layout, Kodigehalli, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560097, India
- Grass Jewel Solutions and Shakambharee Clinic, Devgad, Sindhudurg, Maharashtra, 416613, India
- Department of Wildlife Science, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Kerala 680656, India
- Society for Odonate Studies, Vellooparampil, Kuzhimattom PO, Kottayam, Kerala 686533, India
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, GKVK Campus, Bellary Rd, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560065, India
International Journal of Odonatology, Volume 29, Pages 19-36, 2026
https://doi.org/10.48156/1388.2026.1917364
Published: 7 February 2026 (Received: 23 November 2025 , Accepted: 5 February 2026)
Abstract
A new species of dragonfly, Lyriothemis keralensis sp. n. is described from the coastal plains adjoining the Western Ghats of Kerala, southern India, based on a male holotype (IBC-CD161) and a female paratype (IBC-CD310) (type specimens are deposited in the Biodiversity Lab Research Collections, currently held at the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bengaluru). This taxon was hitherto misidentified as L. acigastra (Selys, 1878) from which it differs in having leaner abdomen, and differently shaped secondary genitalia and caudal appendages. Information on its biology and ecology are provided.
Keywords: Anisoptera, conservation, dragonfly, endemic, insect diversity, new species, taxonomy
https://zoobank.org/References/73ce6629-46c1-45d3-aa59-0edf9ba78eae
https://zoobank.org/NomenclaturalActs/012378d0-97a8-4d79-b669-0fe73f991a30
Issue section: Original Article
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