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| Platylestes kirani Emiliyamma, Palot & Charesh, 2020 |
ABSTRACT
The genus Platylestes Selys, 1862 is known from India, by only one species, P. platystylus from eastern India, West Bengal, and recently from Kerala. Here, we describe a new species Platylestes kirani from the coastal tracts of the northern part of Kerala, southern India. The new species differs from all other known species of the genus by its unique coloration, distinct marking on synthorax, and the shape of anal appendages.
Keywords: Platylestes kirani sp. nov., P. platystylus, southern India, wetland
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| Image 1–11. Platylestes kirani sp. nov. 1—Adult male| 2—Adult female| 3—Head and thorax of male| 4—Head and thorax of female| 5—Male and appendage - lateral view| 6—Male anal appendage - dorsal view| 7—Secondary genitalia of male| 8—Female anal appendage - lateral view| 9—Female anal appendage - ventral view| 10—Female anal appendage - dorsal view| 11—Wings. photos: K.G. Emiliyamma & C. Charesh. |
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| Comparison of adult specimens of Platylestes kirani sp. nov. and P. platystylus: a—Platylestes platystylus - male | b—Platylestes platystylus - female c— Platylestes kirani sp. nov. - male | d— Platylestes kirani sp. nov. - female. |
Platylestes kirani sp. nov.
Diagnosis: This species can be easily distinguished from all other species of Platylestes, by its unique coloration, distinct black marking on its synthorax and shape of anal appendages. This species is characterized from P. platystylus and P. heterostylus by its broad black band on synthorax and apple green coloration.
The new species, Platylestes kirani sp. nov. is differentiated from its close relative, P. platystylus by the following set of characters (Images 12 & 13):
1. Dorsum of synthorax with a broad black marking, its inner side straight, while its outer side crenulated expanded structure at three points (in P. platystylus, dorsum of synthorax without stripe, and with many black spots)
2. Synthorax apple green (P. platystylus: pale khaki brown)
3. Apex of superior anal appendages blunt and rounded, meeting each other (P. platystylus: apex is conical, not meeting each other, pointing downwards)
4. The colour of pterostigma is much darker than P. platystylus.
Etymology: The species is named after the late C.G. Kiran, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the odonatology of Kerala. He co-authored the first Odonata book in Malayalam (local language) and popularized odontology among the nature enthusiasts of the region. He passed away in 2017, at an early age of 40 years. The species name kirani is used as a noun in the genitive case.
K.G. Emiliyamma, Muhamed Jafer Palot and C. Charesh. 2020. A New Species of Platylestes Selys (Odonata: Zygoptera: Lestidae) from the coastal area of Kannur District, Kerala, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa. 12(13); 16854-16860. DOI: 10.11609/jott.5209.12.13.16854-16860
