Rediscovery of the endemic and threatened Jewel Damselfly Rhinocypha togeanensis van Tol & Günther, 2018 (Insecta: Odonata: Chlorocyphidae) in Indonesia, with notes on its habitat loss and the urgent need for conservation action

Authors

  • Muhammad Amiruddin Agrotechnology Study Program, PSDKU Tojo Una-Una, Faculty of Agriculture, Tadulako University, Malotong , Ampana Kota, Central Sulawesi 94683, Indonesia.
  • Diky Dwiyanto Agrotechnology Study Program, PSDKU Tojo Una-Una, Faculty of Agriculture, Tadulako University, Malotong , Ampana Kota, Central Sulawesi 94683, Indonesia.
  • Nuranisa Nuranisa Agrotechnology Study Program, PSDKU Tojo Una-Una, Faculty of Agriculture, Tadulako University, Malotong , Ampana Kota, Central Sulawesi 94683, Indonesia.
  • Jusriadi Jusriadi Agrotechnology Study Program, PSDKU Tojo Una-Una, Faculty of Agriculture, Tadulako University, Malotong , Ampana Kota, Central Sulawesi 94683, Indonesia.
  • Nur Khasanah Agrotechnology Study Program, PSDKU Tojo Una-Una, Faculty of Agriculture, Tadulako University, Malotong , Ampana Kota, Central Sulawesi 94683, Indonesia.
  • André Günther Naturschutzinstitut Freiberg, B.-Kellermann-Str. 20, Freiberg 09599, Germany.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.10120.18.4.28623-28630

Keywords:

Conservation, diversity, deforestation, endemic fauna, freshwater habitat, habitat protection, Indonesia, Sulawesi, Togean Islands, Wallacea

Abstract

Rhinocypha togeanensis van Tol & Günther, 2018 (Insecta: Odonata: Chlorocyphidae) is a damselfly species endemic to Batudaka Island, Togean Archipelago, Indonesia. Since its discovery over 25 years ago, no further records of its presence have been made. This study documents its rediscovery, current distribution, and the state of the habitat of R. togeanensis in Sungai Tanimpo. Surveys were conducted at 12 sites, and several environmental parameters were recorded at each locality. A total of 18 individuals were observed along its type locality, Sungai Tanimpo, where the habitat comprised primary forest along the riverbank. Numerous perches were available, such as foliage and small twigs. This species prefers the stream’s upper reaches in the forested area with lower air temperatures and good illumination. Since no individuals were found at the exact type locality of this species, the preliminary impression was that R. togeanensis has experienced habitat reduction due to deforestation and other human activity, suggesting that urgent conservation measures are needed to preserve this endangered species. According to current knowledge, it is one of the endangered damselfly species in the world.

References

Balzan, M.V. (2012). Associations of dragonflies (Odonata) to habitat variables within the Maltese Islands: A spatiotemporal approach. Journal of Insect Science 12(87): 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1673/031.012.8701

Clausnitzer, V., V.J. Kalkman, M. Ram, B. Collen, J.E.M. Baillie, M. Bedjanič, W.R.T. Darwall, K-B.B. Dijkstra, R. Dow, & J. Hawking (2009). Odonata enter the biodiversity crisis debate: the first global assessment of an insect group. Biological Conservation 142(8): 1864–1869. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2009.03.028

Cleary, D.F.R., A.M. Bijlmer, D. Wielakker & N.J. de Voogd (2025). Damselflies and dragonflies in distress: the impact of forest fires and logging on odonate assemblages. Ecological Indicators 173: 113382. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2025.113382

Cottam, M.A., R. Hall, M. Forster & M.K. Boudagher-Fadel (2011). Basement character and basin formation in Gorontalo Bay, Sulawesi, Indonesia: New observations from the Togian Islands. In: Hall, R., M.A. Cottam & M. E.J. Wilson (eds.). The SE Asian Gateway: History and Tectonics of Australia-Asia Collision. The Geological Society, London, 381 pp. https://doi.org/10.1144/SP355.9

Da Silva Jr, W.F., L.B. Calvão, F.G. Carvalho, E.F. Medina-Espinoza & L.S. Brasil (2023). Use of the Zygoptera/Anisoptera Ratio (Insecta: Odonata) for habitat alteration assessment in Cerrado Streams. International Journal of Odonatology 26: 124–131. https://doi.org/10.48156/1388.2023.1917214

de Oliveira-Junior, J.M.B., P. De Marco, K. Dias-Silva, R.P. Leitão, C.G. Leal, P.S. Pompeu, T.A. Gardner, R.M. Hughes & L. Juen (2017). Effects of human disturbance and riparian conditions on Odonata (Insecta) assemblages in eastern Amazon basin streams. Limnologica 66: 31–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.limno.2017.04.007

Dow, R., C. Choong, J. Grinang, P. Lupiyaningdyah, R. Ngiam & V. Kalkman (2024). Checklist of the Odonata (Insecta) of Sundaland and Wallacea (Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia and Timor Leste). Zootaxa 5460 (1): 1–122. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5460.1.1

Dow, R.A. (2021). Rhinocypha togeanensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T173698901A173756660. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T173698901A173756660.en. Downloaded on 26.vii.2025.

Fernandez, N.R. (2024). A straightforward protocol to sample morphological traits of dragonflies and damselflies in the field. Ecology and Evolution 14(6): e11604. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11604

Günther, A. (2008). Vergleichende Untersuchungen zum Reproduktionsverhalten südostasiatischer Chlorocyphidae und Calopterygidae (Odonata: Zygoptera). PhD Thesis, Fakultät für Chemie und Physik der Technischen. Universität Bergakademie Freiberg genehmigte 208 pp.

Günther, A. (2019). Reproductive behaviour of Chlorocyphidae. Part 1. Genus Sclerocypha Fraser, 1949 (Odonata). Odonatologica 48 (3/4): 285–304. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3539742

Günther, A. (2020). Reproductive behaviour of Chlorocyphidae. Part 2. Genus Disparocypha Ris, 1916 (Odonata). Odonatologica 49 (1/2): 85–106. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3823333

Harahap, R.R., A.M. Shahroni (2024). Record of two Endemic Damselflies from Obi Island, Moluccas, Indonesia with habitat description. Treubia 51(2): 169–174. https://doi.org/10.14203/treubia.v51i2.4773

Jati, A.S., B.W. Broto, G.F. Dri, K. Latifiana, S. Fraver, I.S. Rejeki, B. Bustang & A. Mortelliti (2024). Conserving large mammals on small islands: A case study on one of the world’s most understudied pigs, the Togean islands babirusa. Biodiversity and Conservation 33: 1207–1223. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-024-02800-5

Lupiyaningdyah, P. (2020). The past, present and future of dragonfly research in Indonesia. BIO Web of Conferences 19(1): 00024. https://doi.org/10.1051/bioconf/20201900024

Monteiro-Júnior, C.S., L. Juen & N. Hamada (2014). Effects of urbanization on stream habitats and associated adult dragonfly and damselfly communities in central Brazilian Amazonia. Landscape and Urban Planning 127: 28–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2014.03.006

Nugraha, A.M. & R. Hall (2018). Late Cenozoic palaeogeography of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 490: 191–209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2017.10.033

QGIS.org (2026). QGIS Geographic Information System. QGIS Association. http://www.qgis.org. Downloaded on 15.v.2025.

Ris, F. (1916). Zwei Notizen über Calopterygiden (Odonata) vom Malaiischen Archipel. Entomologische Mitteilungen 5: 30–3318.

Supriatna, J., M. Shekelle, H.A.H. Fuad, N.L. Winarni, A.A. Dwiyahreni, M. Farid, S. Mariati, C. Margules, B. Prakoso & Z. Zakaria (2020). Deforestation on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi and the loss of primate habitat. Global Ecology and Conservation 24: e01205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01205

van Tol, J. & A. Günther (2018). The Odonata of Sulawesi and adjacent islands. Part 8. Revision of the genus Rhinocypha Rambur, 1842 (Chlorocyphidae). Odonatologica 47(3/4): 299–386. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1481114

van Tol, J. (1987). The Odonata of Sulawesi (Celebes), Indonesia an introduction. Odonatologica 3: 147–155.

van Tol, J. (1998). The Odonata of Sulawesi and adjacent islands. Part 4. A new genus and species of Chlorocyphidae from south-eastern Sulawesi. Zoologische Verhandelingen 323: 441–448.

van Tol, J. (2007). The Odonata of Sulawesi and adjacent islands. Part 6. Revision of the genus Drepanosticta Laidlaw (Zygoptera: Platystictidae). Odonatologica 36(2): 171–189.

Downloads

Published

26-04-2026

Issue

Vol. 18 No. 4 (2026)

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Muhammad Amiruddin, Diky Dwiyanto, Nuranisa Nuranisa, Jusriadi Jusriadi, Nur Khasanah, André Günther

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Authors own the copyright to the articles published in JoTT.  This is indicated explicitly in each publication. The authors grant permission to the publisher Wildlife Information Liaison Development (WILD) Society to publish the article in the Journal of Threatened Taxa. The authors recognize WILD as the original publisher, and to sell hard copies of the Journal and article to any buyer. JoTT is registered under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY), which allows authors to retain copyright ownership.  Under this license the authors allow anyone to download, cite, use the data, modify, reprint, copy and distribute provided the authors and source of publication are credited through appropriate citations (e.g., Son et al. (2016). Bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) of the southeastern Truong Son Mountains, Quang Ngai Province, Vietnam. Journal of Threatened Taxa 8(7): 8953–8969. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.2785.8.7.8953-8969). Users of the data do not require specific permission from the authors or the publisher.