 |
| Melanoneura agasthyamalaica Chandran, Chandran, Jose & Koparde, in V. Chandran, R. Chandran, Jose, Payra et Koparde, 2024. |
Abstract
Melanoneura Fraser, 1922 is a genus of damselflies which was, to date, regarded as monotypic. It is represented by the nominate species, Melanoneura bilineata Fraser, 1922 which is endemic to the Western Ghats in India. We describe the population of Melanoneura in the Agasthyamalai landscape of the Western Ghats as a species new to science based on differences in the structure of male cerci, mesostigmal plates, genital ligulae, and the structure and marking of the prothorax. Subtle differences in body markings are also documented. Further, we demonstrate a significant genetic distance (7.2–7.4%) between the new species and M. bilineata, based on mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase I analysis. Our study combines morphological and genetic evidence to describe a new species belonging to the genus Melanoneura, cancelling its monotypic nature.
Keywords: Zygoptera, bambootail, biodiversity, damselfly, dragonfly, endemic, monotypic, new species, taxonomy
Order Odonata Fabricius, 1793
Suborder Zygoptera Selys, 1854
Superfamily Coenagrionoidea Kirby, 1890
Family Platycnemididae Jacobson and Bianchi, 1905
Genus Melanoneura Fraser, 1922
Type species: Melanoneura bilineata Fraser, 1922
 |
| Melanoneura agasthyamalaica sp. n. ♂ in habitat. |
Melanoneura agasthyamalaica Chandran, Chandran, Jose & Koparde sp. n.
Diagnosis: Male Melanoneura agasthyamalaica sp. n. can be distinguished from its only congener, M. bilineata, by the following features: posterior lobe of prothorax with a more rounded posterior margin (posterior lobe of prothorax with a relatively straight posterior margin in M. bilineata). Mesostigmal plates flat (mesostigmal plates curled at the tips in M. bilineata) (Figures 3 & 4). Pt in FW squarish, covering just over one cell (Pt in all wings rectangular, covering two cells in M. bilineata) (Figure 5). Cerci more elongated, as long as paraprocts, with a more pointed spine (cerci shorter, falling just short of paraprocts, with a more rounded spine in M. bilineata) (Figures 6 & 7). The outer processes of the distal segments of genital ligula are spatulate in both taxa. The inner processes are shallowly divided in the new taxon and deeply divided in M. bilineata (Figures 8 & 9). The following differences in body markings are also seen, but these could be ....
Etymology: The species epithet agasthyamalaica is derived from the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve of the Western Ghats, the landscape from where this species is first described.
 |
| Habitat of Melanoneura agasthyamalaica sp. n. |
A. Vivek Chandran, Reji Chandran, Subin Jose, Arajush Payra and Pankaj Koparde. 2024. Melanoneura agasthyamalaica sp. n. (Odonata, Platycnemididae) from the Western Ghats, India. International Journal of Odonatology. 27; 213-226. www.biotaxa.org/ijo/article/view/86296
DOI: doi.org/10.48156/1388.2024.1917298
Researchgate.net/publication/384741197_Melanoneura_agasthyamalaica_sp_n_from_the_Western_Ghats_India