Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 December 2016 | 8(14): 9648–9652

 

 

 

 

 

A new species of Protosticta Selys, 1885 (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platystictidae) from Western Ghats, Kerala, India

K.G. Emiliyamma 1 & Muhamed Jafer Palot 2

1,2 Zoological Survey of India, Western Ghat Regional Centre, Kozhikode, Kerala 673006, India

1 kgemily@gmail.com (corresponding author), 2 palot.zsi@gmail.com

 

 

 

doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.11609/jott.3226.8.14.9648-9652 | ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C47F2EB3-3B23-457A-860C-A3CBD935FC37

 

Editor: Anonymited requested. Date of publication: 26 December 2016 (online & print)

 

Manuscript details: Ms # 3226 | Received 28 June 2016 | Final received 12 December 2016 | Finally accepted 15 December 2016

 

Citation: 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; http://dx.doi.org/10.11609/jott.3226.8.14.9648-9652

 

Copyright: © Emiliyamma & Palot 2016. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International 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: None.

 

Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no competing interests.

 

Acknowledgements: The authors are grateful to the Director, Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Kolkata and the Officer-in-Charge, ZSI, Western Ghat Regional Centre, Kozhikode for facilities and encouragement. Thanks are also due to Shri. Saby Varghese, Divisional Forest Officer, Marayoor Sandal Wood Forest Division and Shri. Prasad, Wildlife Warden, Munnar Wildlife Division for permitting us to survey the interior part of the forests.

 

 

 

Abstract: A new species of Protosticta Selys, 1885 from Kerala part of Western Ghats is described and illustrated. The holotype male and paratype female is distinguished from other Protosticta species based on its complete black dorsal surface of abdomen, 7th and 8th abdominal segment without yellow or blue color dorsally and its distinct anal appendages. The new species, Protosticta monticola sp. nov. was collected from shola forests of Idukki District, Kerala, southern Western Ghats. A key is also provided for the identification of all described species of Protosticta known from the Western Ghats.

Keywords: Odonata, Platystictidae, Protosticta, Western Ghats, Zygoptera.

 

 

 

 

The genus Protosticta (Zygoptera: Platystictidae) was established by Selys (1885). It is widespread in Southeast Asian countries, Philippines, Borneo and Sulawesi (van Tol 2008). The genus is characterized by the absence of the Ab vein, (Anal bridge), a cross vein in the wing venation. There are 11 species of Protosticta known from India (Subramanian 2014; Kiran et al. 2015). Of these, eight species, viz., Protosticta antelopoides Fraser, 1924, P. davenporti Fraser, 1931, P. gravelyi Laidlaw, 1915, P. hearseyi Fraser, 1922, P. mortoni Fraser, 1924, P. ponmudiensis Kiran, Kalesh & Kunte, 2015, P. rufostigma Kimmins, 1958, and P. sanguinostigma Fraser, 1922 are known from the Western Ghats. Based on Schorr & Paulson (2015), checklist of Indian Odonata (Subramanian 2014), and the recent publication of Kiran et al. (2015), there are 42 species of Protosticta known from the world. In this paper, we report the discovery of a new species of Protosticta from the shola forests of Idukki District, Kerala. A Key to the identification of eight species known from the Western Ghats is also provided.

Protosticta monticola sp. nov.

(Images 1–12)

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:832C6D14-9FB6-473E-9ED2-4645F64C6D0A

Type material

Holotype: ZSI/WGRC, IR/INV-6923, male, 20.v.2014, Kambilipparachola, Marayur Forest Division, Idukki District, Kerala, India, 10027.82’N & 77014.21’E, 1739m, coll. P.M. Sureshan.

Paratype 1: ZSI/WGRC, IR/INV-6924, teneral male, 21.v.2014, Nagamalachola, Marayur Forest Division, Idukki District, Kerala, India, 10015.697’N & 77038.08’E, 1632m, coll. P.M. Sureshan.

Paratype 2: ZSI/WGRC, IR/INV-6925, female, 21.ix.2014, Mathikettan Shola National Park, Idukki District, Kerala, India, 9097.609’N & 77024.088’E, coll. P.M. Sureshan (Fig. 1).

The holotype and paratypes are preserved wet in 80% alcohol and deposited in the National Zoological Collections of WGRC, ZSI, Kozhikode.

Description

Holotype: Male. (Images: 1-12). Head: Eyes grayish-black above, pale bluish-green at sides and below. Labium bright yellow, black medially. Labrum pale blue, lower one-third shining black with long, brownish hairs. Anteclypeus creamy yellow, postclypeus shining black with long, brown hairs anteriorly. Mandible base yellow on upper part, shining black below. Genae, vertex and frons shining black with coppery reflection. Median ocelli chestnut brown, lateral ocelli chestnut brown on innerside, creamy yellow outwardly; the distance between lateral ocelli is (0.5mm) lesser than the distance between median ocelli (0.6mm). Antenna black, pedicel dull white, behind antenna a few short and long white hairs. Prothorax: propleuron pale yellow, collar of anterior lobe creamy yellow with a middle black band. Middle lobe dull brownish-white, black at the sides and in the central part. Posterior lobe dull brownish-white and medially black. Synthorax (Image 3): shining black with coppery reflection. Antehumeral stripe absent. Antealar triangle shining black; mesepisternum shining black with coppery reflection; mesepimeron metallic, shining black, metepisternum metallic black with a broad bright yellow stripe throughout its length; metepimeron bright yellow. The ventral side of thorax is pale yellow. Legs: creamy white; femur with thin black stripe dorsally throughout its length; all tarsi and claws yellowish-brown; knee joints of femora, distal end of tibiae and trochanters bluish-black. Wings (Image 12): transparent, venation black; 12 postnodals in FW, 11 in the HW. Arculus slightly distal to 2nd antenodal; R4 arising opposite of subnodus, IR3 joined to it by a short stalk. Pterostigma trapezoidal shaped, dark brownish-black with a reddish tinge, a thin pale yellowish-brown frame surrounding it, enclosed in thick black frame, covering slightly more than one underlying cell. Abdomen: Metallic black dorsally from segment 1 to segment 10. S1 bright yellow laterally and ventrally, with a broad pale yellow basal annule. S2 bright yellow laterally and ventrally; accessory genitalia brownish-black; S3 to S7 bright yellow laterally; S1 to S8 with incomplete yellow basal annulus expanded laterally; lateral and ventral surface of S8 bright yellow; ventral side of S9 yellow. Anal appendages (Images 6–9): black and dull yellow. The length of superior appendages is more than twice the length of segment 10, broad at base, furnished with an inner, dorsal pointed tubercle, then tapering and expanding again in the distal part to form a finger and thumb like structure, as in all species of Protosticta. The finger and thumb almost in equal length or finger process slightly longer than thumb, the apex of finger broad and curved inwards; thumb process dull yellow, broad and ends in a pointed tip, like a bird’s beak. The dorsal side of superior appendage is rugose, with small spines and short, white hairs. Inferior appendages broad at base, then tapered gradually to apex, the apex flattened and pointed, bright yellow, the base furnished with a pointed tubercle; paraprocts with short, white hairs. The inferior appendage is distinctly shorter to superior.

Measurements

Holotype: Total length 44mm; abdomen length 35mm; FW 23mm; HW 21mm.

Paratype 1: Total length 41mm; abdomen length 33mm; FW 23mm; HW 21mm.

Paratype 2: Total length 42 mm; abdomen length 34mm; FW 24mm; HW 22mm

Paratype 1: Teneral male: Exactly similar to adult male, except the colour of abdomen and thorax pale black, yellow colour brighter; pterostigma reddish-brown.

Paratype 2: Female: Exactly similar to adult male in coloration, except a few slight variations: more robust than male; labrum pale yellow, bordered with black; abdominal segments 1 and 2 with dull yellow basal annulus, S3 to S5 with yellow markings dorsally and ventrally, wings with 13–14 postnodals in FW, 12 in HW. Vulvar scale robust, black with yellow markings.

 

 

Diagnosis

This species can be easily distinguished from all other described species of Protosticta, having complete black abdomen dorsally and its distinct shape of anal appendage. In all other species of Protosticta, the basal part of segment 8, which is blue, yellow or with blue stripes and anal appendage is unique in each species.

Etymology

The species epithet monticola refer to the natural habitat of this species, the mountain dweller, where the species was discovered.

Distribution

Protosticta monticola sp. nov. is currently known from the high altitudes (above 1600m) of Anamalai Hills, Idukki, Kerala in the southern Western Ghats. The present study found this species in highland shola forest ecosystems of Kambilipparachola and Nagamalachola of Marayur forest division and Mathikettan Shola National Park in Idukki District, Kerala State, India.

Habitat and ecology

The males were found away from the forest streams, in shaded areas among the shola forest undergrowth at Kambilipparachola. Few females and males were also found frequenting sides of the streams covered with forest canopy near Nagamalachola in Marayur forests.

Subsequently, on a visit to Mathikettan shola National Park on 21 September 2014, we found a few female specimens of Protostica monticola sp. nov., in a forest stream inside the shola forest. Other species observed with them were Euphaea cardinalils (Fraser) and Esme cyaneovittata Fraser.

Even though, we surveyed the shola grassland ecosystems of adjoining areas of Anaimudi Shola NP, Pambadumshola NP, Eravikulam NP and Kurinjimala Sanctuary, we could not find any specimens of Prostosticta monticola sp. nov. during the period.

Discussion

Of the eight species of Protosticta known from the Western Ghats, P. gravelyi and P. hearseyi have widespread distribution and are reported from many localities in the southern Western Ghats. The suitable altitude preferred by the members of the genus Protosticta is between 180–365 m. But in the case of P. monticola sp. nov, the preferred elevation is between 1600–1700 m. This is the only species found within the high altitude shola forests of the southern Western Ghats.

This is one of the small sized Protosticta like P. hearseyi. Some of the main differences with other Western Ghats species are given below (Table 1) with their distribution.

References

Fraser, F.C. (1933). The Fauna of British India including Ceylon and Burma. Odonata - Vol. I. Taylor and Francis Ltd., London, 423pp.

Kiran, C.G., S. Kalesh & K. Kunte (2015). A new species of damselfly, Protosticta ponmudiensis (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platystictidae) from Ponmudi Hills in the Western Ghats of India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 7(5): 7146–7151; http://dx.doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o4145.7146-51

Schorr-Martin & D. Paulson (2015). World Odonata List. http://www.pugetsound.edu/academics/academic-resources/slater-museum/biodiversity-resources/dragonflies/world-odonata-list2/. Downloaded on 5 December 2015.

Subramanian, K.A. (2014). A Checklist of Odonata (Insecta) of India, http://zsi.gov.in/checklist/Odonata_Indica_120414.pdf Downloaded 15 December 2015.

van Tol, J. (2008). Notes on some species of the genus Protosticta from Vietnam (Odonata, Platystictidae). Zoologische Mededelingen 82(21): 217–234, figs. 1–26.

Key to the species of Protosticta Selys, 1885 (male) of the Western Ghats

1. Pterostigma black …...........…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………....……….…. 2

- Pterostigma red blood …………………………………………………………………....…………………………….……………….. P. sanguinostigma

2. Prothorax pale blue, the posterior lobe completely black ………………………………………………………………....………… P. mortoni

- Prothorax and its posterior lobe blue or creamy white ……………………………………………………………….......................………… 3

3. Posterior lobe of Prothorax with spine ………………………………………………………………....…………………………………………………… 4

- Posterior lobe of Prothorax without spine ………………………………………………………………....…………………………………..………… 5

4. Posterior lobe furnished with a pair of long, divaricate horn like spine; inferior anal appendage bifid at apex ………………

………………………………………………………….…………………………………………………………...…………………………………..... P. antelopoides

- Posterior lobe furnished with a pair of short lateral spine and internally two medial spines; inferior anal appendage

twisted and curved inwards, not bifid ………………………………………………………………...........................………… P. ponmudiensis

5. Abdominal segment 8 metallic black, lateral and ventral surface of S8 bright yellow; superior anal appendage with the

apex of finger broad and curved inwards, thumb process broad and ends in a pointed tip, like a bird’s beak …………….…

…………………………………………………….…………………………………………………………....…………………………........ P. monticola sp. nov.

- Basal half of abdominal segment 8 pale blue with black markings; superior anal appendage different ……….......……… 6

6. R4+5 arising slightly or well distal to subnode ………………………………………………………………....……………………………….………… 7

- R4+5 arising opposite or distal to subnode …………………………………………………………………....……………………………….....……… 8

7. Thorax metallic black marked with creamy white oblique stripe; abdomen black, marked with white and turquoise blue;

superior anal appendages with finger pointed at apex; inferior appendage furnished with an inner stout spine at base..

………………………………………………………………....……………………………………………………………....……………………….……… P. gravelyi

- Thorax greenish-black marked with bluish-white oblique stripe; abdomen blackish-brown, marked with yellowish-white

and blue; superior anal appendage with finger blunt at apex; inferior appendage without spine or tooth …………......……

………………………………………………………….…………………………………………………………....…………………………………...... P. rufostigma

8. 8th segment of abdomen pale blue, with a narrow black apical annulus; superior anal appendages twice the length of

segment 10; inferior appendage furnished with two or three teeth ………………………………………………………….... P. hearseyi

- The basal third or half of 8th segment of abdomen pale blue; superior anal appendage half as long as segment 10;

inferior appendage without any spine or tooth ………………………………………………………………................………… P. davenporti