Rediscovery of the Long-Tailed Duskhawker
The long-tailed duskhawker, a rare dragonfly species, was recently rediscovered in Arunachal Pradesh's Changlang district, about 600 km east of its first recorded location. This species, known scientifically as Gynacantha khasiaca, was last described in 1914 from the Abor Hills.
Key Features and Rediscovery
- Has near-360° vision with thousands of lenses.
- Can remain stationary in the air.
- Rediscovered by four citizen scientists in Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve.
- The rediscovery study was published in the Journal of Threatened Taxa.
Significance of the Finding
This rediscovery emphasizes the importance of habitat protection and monitoring in Arunachal Pradesh.
Dragonfly Species Overview
- Globally, the genus Gynacantha includes 92 species.
- Approximately 30 species are found in Southeast Asia and 10 in India.
- Odonata order, which includes dragonflies and damselflies, plays a vital role in freshwater ecosystems.
- India hosts 504 species and 27 subspecies of Odonata.
- Arunachal Pradesh has 110 species documented.
Study Observations
- 17 Odonata species recorded during the study.
- Species included Trithemis aurora, Neurothemis fulvia, Orthetrum glaucum, among others.
- A single male Gynacantha khasiaca was observed on October 16, 2024, around 8 a.m.
- The observation was made on a cloudy day along the Miao-Vijoynagar Road at 600 m altitude.
Geographical Distribution
- Outside India, found in Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Nepal.
- In India, sightings include Assam, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal.
- Closest known location to the recent sighting is Deopahar in Assam's Golaghat district.
