Further additions to the Odonata (Insecta) fauna of Goa, India
Parag Rangnekar 1 & Rohan Naik 2
1 Building 4, S-3, Technopark,Chogm Road, Alto-Porvorim,
Goa 403001, India
2 S-1, C-1, Sarthak Garden, Above Powermax Gym, Dhavali-Ponda, Goa
403401, India
1 paragrangnekar@yahoo.com (Corresponding
author), 2 rahutherebel@gmail.com
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o3641.5585-9 | ZooBank:urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B7D366DA-1374-49D4-A673-B9A918FDC14F
Editor: K.A.
Subramanian, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, India. Date of publication:26 March 2014 (online & print)
Manuscript details: Ms #
o3641 | Received 26 May 2013 | Final received 15 February 2014 | Finally
accepted 29 February 2014
Citation: Rangnekar, P. & R. Naik (2014). Further additions to the Odonata(Insecta) fauna of Goa, India. Journal
of Threatened Taxa 6(3): 5585–5589; http://dx.doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o3641.5585-9
Copyright: © Rangnekar & Naik 2014. Creative Commons
Attribution 3.0 Unported License. JoTT allows unrestricted use of this article in any medium,
reproduction and distribution by providing adequate credit to the authors and
the source of publication.
Funding: Department of Science, Technology & Environment, Government of Goa
Competing Interest: The
authors declare no competing interests.
Acknowledgements: We thank the
Mineral Foundation of Goa for providing logistic and departmental support and
the Department of Science & Technology, Government of Goa for providing
financial support to carry out the study. Thanks are due to the Department of
Forests for issuing permission to collect specimen throughout the state (Letter
No. 2-WL-Perm/NP-2007-11-FD/5951 dt. 09-01.2012). We
acknowledge the guidance provided by Dr. K.A.
Subramanian throughout the study period. Special mention of Mr.Sridhar Halali & Mandar Gaude for assistance during field visits and we also
acknowledge the support of all our friends and well-wishers.
For images, tables -- click here
The first peer reviewed work on the odonatefauna for the State of Goa was by Prasad (1995) wherein 22 species were
reported. The Fauna of Goa: State
Fauna Series (Kulkarni & Talmale2008) by Zoological Survey of India added another 17 species to the list by
Prasad, thereby increasing the tally to 39. Rangnekar et
al. (2010) further added 34 species to the State list. Recently, Subramanian et al. (2013)
described Idionyx gomantakensis,
a species new to science collected from Collem, Goa
based on samples collected by the authors. Thus, a total of 74 species were so far known from the State. In the present communication we report
an additional 13 species from the State of Goa.
The authors surveyed
varied habitats in the State of Goa from August 2011 to July 2012, especially
forest habitats to document the odonatediversity. The surveyed sites are
listed in Table 1.
Individual specimens
were photo-documented from various angles and these images were cross-checked with identification manuals for identification
(Images 1–13). Collection and
killing was avoided for species which could be
visually identified. For difficult species, specimens were collected using
sweep nets, kept in paper envelopes and then preserved in 70% alcohol. The collected specimens were identified
using standard field guides (Fraser 1933, 1934, 1936; Subramanian 2005). The specimen are maintained with the
corresponding author for further investigations and will be deposited in a
recognised repository in the future
Of the species
documented during the survey, 13 species are new records for the state. Of
these, five species are endemic to the Western Ghats. A detailed, systematic account of the
species is given below:
Suborder: Anisoptera
Family: Aeshnidae
1. Gynacantha dravida Lieftinck, 1960
Material examined: 1
male, 9.v.2012, coll. Rohan Naik
Distribution: Painguinim, Kapileshwari (Canacona)
Comment: The species
was observed along forest paths under dense forest canopy with very little
sunlight. The species was found active during overcast conditions.
Family: Gomphidae
2. Gomphidia kodaguensis Fraser, 1923
Material examined: 1
male, 18.v.2012, coll. Parag Rangnekar
Distribution: Mainapi (Sanguem), Collem and Dabhal (Dharbandhora)
Comments: The
species is seen in flight from March to June along forest streams and
rivers. This record extends its
distribution northwards into the northern Western Ghats.
3. Merogomphus longistigma (Fraser, 1922)
Material examined: 1
male, 1 female, 23.ix.2011, coll. Parag Rangnekar & Rohan Naik
Distribution: Vichundre (Sanguem)
Comments: The
species was observed during the monsoons. The species has a habit of perching
on low vegetation along streams. This record extends its distribution northwards into the northern
Western Ghats.
4. Megalogomphus hannyngtoni (Fraser, 1923)
Material examined:
None. Sighted on 18.v.2012
Distribution: Mainapi (Sanguem)
Comment: The
individual was identified based on images from various angles since efforts to
collect a specimen were in vain. The species is seen in flight from March to June along forest streams
and rivers. This record extends its distribution northwards into the northern
Western Ghats.
Family: Libellulidae
5. Onychothemis testacea (Ris, 1912)
Material examined: 1
male, 11.v.2012, coll. Parag Rangnekar& Rohan Naik
Distribution: Sonauli (Dharbandhora)
Comments: The
species was observed during the summer season in the month of March along
forest streams and rivers. The
species does not prefer open areas like the Gomphidsand keeps to shady places in the river with overhanging vegetation, where a
number of individuals of both sexes can be sighted.
6. Urothemis signata (Rambur, 1842)
Material examined:
None
Distribution: Karmali (Tiswadi), Mapusa (Bardez), Curtorim (Salcette)
Comment: The
individuals were identified based on images and hence collection was not
necessary. This species prefers open tanks and lakes with reed-beds.
7. Zygonyxiris malabarica Fraser, 1926
Material examined: 1
male, 11.v.2012, coll. Parag Rangnekar& Rohan Naik
Distribution: Doodhsagar, Collem (Dharbandhora), Mainapi (Sanguem)
Comments: The
species is seen hovering along forest streams. Very rarely can one see an individual
perched. The species can be easily
identified in flight by the metallic colours and the characteristic yellowish
spot on the 7th abdominal segment.
Family: Macromiidae
8. Epophthalmia vittata Burmeister,
1839
Material examined: 1
male, 4.x.2011, coll. Rohan Naik
Distribution: Karmali(Tiswadi), Curtorim (Salcette), Satpal (Dharbandhora), Collem (Sanguem)
Comments: The species is a strong flier and is
seen patrolling along the banks of large water tanks and lakes. The species is sighted in forest
habitats as well. Very rarely can
one sight an individual perched.
Suborder: Zygoptera
Family: Coenagrionidae
9. Archibasis oscillans (Selys, 1877)
Material examined: 1
male, 10.v.2012, coll. Rohan Naik
Distribution: Paiguinim (Canacona)
Comments: The
species was sighted among the reeds around water tanks. The pale body color and the shape of the pterostigmaseparate it from other genus of the Marsh Darts such as Pseudagrion.
10. Ceriagrion rubiae Laidlaw, 1916
Material examined: 1
male, 2.ii.2012, coll. Rohan Naik
Distribution: Panshi (Ponda), Satpal (Dharbandhora)
Comments: This
species was sighted in a variety of habitats, especially near the ephemeral
lateritic pools.
11. Pseudagrion rubriceps Selys, 1876
Material examined: 1
male, 1 female, 24.i.2012, coll. Rohan Naik
Distribution: Mhadei (Sattari), Ganje (Ponda), Dabhal (Dharbandhora), Satpal (Dharbandhora), Pernem
Comments: The
species was sighted along streams and rivers mostly in groups.
Family: Platystictidae
12. Protosticta sanguinostigma Fraser, 1922
Material examined:
Four males, 25.iv.2012, 9.v.2012, 11.v.2012, 28.v.2012, coll. Parag Rangnekar, Rohan Naik & Shridhar Halali
Distribution: Collem, Dabhal (Dharbandhora), Mainapi, Savari (Sanguem)
Comments: The
species can be differentiated from other of its genus by its blood-red pterostigma. The species is in flight from the beginning of the monsoons till the end
of the monsoons after which the sightings seem to decrease. This record extends its distribution
northwards into the northern Western Ghats.
Family: Protoneuridae
13. Caconeura ramburi (Fraser, 1922)
Material examined: 2
males, 28.v.2012, coll. Parag Rangnekar
Distribution: Collem (Dharbandhora), Mainapi (Sanguem)
Comments: The
species is best sighted along small hill streams with good forest cover. The species is sighted during
pre-monsoons and more commonly during the monsoons.
Discussion
With the addition of
13 new records for the State, the tally of odonatediversity stands at 87. Of these
five are endemic to the Western Ghats. The study also adds one family Macromiidae not
reported earlier from the State. Compared to the known diversity of Odonatesfrom Peninsular India, which is around 200, the present species count is surely
an underestimate. We strongly
believe that sustained and co-ordinated efforts are necessary for documenting
the odonate diversity of the state. This is possible through networking
between the government and researchers for which the department of forest can
act as the nodal agency. Further,
since odonates are indicator species, it is necessary
that other than diversity, abundance studies and long-term monitoring need to
be taken up for major water bodies in the state.
References
Fraser,
F.C. (1933). The Fauna of British India including
Ceylon and Burma. Odonata Vol. I. Taylor and
Francis Ltd., London, 423pp
Fraser,
F.C. (1934). The Fauna of British India including
Ceylon and Burma. Odonata Vol. II. Taylor and
Francis Ltd., London, 398pp
Fraser,
F.C. (1936). The Fauna of British India including
Ceylon and Burma. Odonata Vol. III. Taylor and
Francis Ltd., London, 461pp
Kulkarni P.P. & S.S. Talmale(2008). Insecta: Odonata. Fauna of Goa, State Fauna Series, Zoological
Survey of India 16: 173–194
Prasad,
M. (1995). On a collection of odonata from Goa. Fraseria(N.S.) 2(1/2): 7–8.
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under the Project Lifescape Series. Indian
Academy of Sciences, Banglore, 118pp.
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K.A., P. Rangnekar & R. Naik(2013). Idionyx (Odonata: Corduliidae)
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