Protosticta cyanofemora[1] is a damselfly species in the family Platystictidae. It is endemic to southern Western Ghats in India. The species is named cyanofemora considering its bright blue femur.[1]
| Protosticta cyanofemora | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Suborder: | Zygoptera |
| Family: | Platystictidae |
| Genus: | Protosticta |
| Species: | P. cyanofemora
|
| Binomial name | |
| Protosticta cyanofemora Joshi, Subramanian, Babu & Kunte, 2020
| |
The genus Protosticta has fifteen species reported from India, of which twelve are known from Western Ghats.[1][2][3]
It is a black damselfly with bright blue eyes. Its prothorax is purple, marked with black. Its thorax is black, marked with creamy yellow stripes. The inner sides of the femur of the legs are blue. Wings are transparent with dark brown pterostigma. Its abdomen is black, marked with yellowish white. Segments 1 and 2 are white laterally. Segments 3 to 8 are with broad basal annules. Segment 8 is with its basal two-third yellowish-white and segments 9 and 10 are unmarked. Anal appendages are black with dark brown apices. Female is very similar to the male, but shorter and more robustly built.[1]
This species can be distinguished from other Protosticta species based on its bright-blue facial markings, eyes, prothoracic markings, and femora.[1]
This species was first observed at Pandimotta, Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala. Later it is found in Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Tirunelveli too.[1]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f Joshi, Shantanu; Subramanian, K. A.; Babu, R.; Sawant, Dattaprasad; Kunte, Krushnamegh (2020). "Three new species of Protosticta Selys, 1885 (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platystictidae) from the Western Ghats, India, with taxonomic notes on P. mortoni Fraser, 1922 and rediscovery of P. rufostigma Kimmins, 1958". Zootaxa. 4858 (2). Magnolia Press, Auckland, New Zealand: 151–185. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4858.2.1. PMID 33056228. S2CID 222837723.
- ^ C FC Lt. Fraser (1933). The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma, Odonata Vol. I. Red Lion Court, Fleet Street, London: Taylor and Francis.
- ^ Subramanian, K. A. (2005). Dragonflies and Damselflies of Peninsular India - A Field Guide.