In June 2025, the researchers from Kerala based Travancore Nature History Society (TNHS), in collaboration with other institutions, discovered a new dragonfly species named ‘Lyriothemis abrahami’ in the Western Ghats, which was previously misidentified as ‘Lyriothemis flava’ due to morphological similarities.
- The discovery was published in the entomological journal Entomon.
About Lyriothemis abrahami:
i.Naming: The species has been named in honour of Abraham Samuel, a pioneering odonatologist (expert in the study of dragonflies and damselflies) from Kerala, recognising his contributions to the field of odonatology in India.
ii.Habitat: Endemic to the southern and central Western Ghats across Kerala and Karnataka.
- Found in low land rainforests and mid-elevation evergreen/deciduous forests (50–1,100 metres(m) above sea level)
iii.Morphology: The dragonfly displays strong sexual dimorphism. Males possess uniquely shaped hamules (secondary genitalia), while females are jet-black with prominent yellow triangular spots. It breeds in phytotelmata, small pools of water in tree holes.
iv.Conservation Status: Classified as rare and localised, highlighting its vulnerability to habitat loss.
v.Biodiversity Impact: Increases Kerala’s odonate count to 191 species (including 78 endemics)
New Diurnal Gecko Species ‘Cnemaspis brahmaputra’ Discovered in Assam
In July 2025, a new species of diurnal gecko, named ‘Cnemaspis brahmaputra’, was discovered in Assam, specifically from the Dirgheswari Temple area on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra River, Guwahati (Assam).
- The species was named to honor the Brahmaputra River. It is notable for its day-active behaviour(Diurnal), unlike most gecko species in Northeast India which are typically nocturnal.
- The discovery was published in Taprobanica, the Journal of Asian Biodiversity and adds a significant entry to India’s herpetofaunal diversity.
About Cnemaspis brahmaputra:
i.Discovery and Research Team: The discovery was led by a team of researchers—Amit Sayyed, Madhurima Das, A.A. Thasun Amarasinghe, Rupankar Bhattacharjee, and Jayaditya Purkayastha in a joint effort involving the Wildlife Protection & Research Society (WLP), Assam Don Bosco University, and Assam based Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Help Earth.
ii.Taxonomy and Morphology: Cnemaspis brahmaputra belongs to the Cnemaspis podihuna clade, a group of small, diurnal geckos once considered largely restricted to Sri Lanka.
- It is the second species of this genus discovered in Northeast India, following Cnemaspis assamensis described in 2000.
- Larger body size, fewer mid-body scale rows (20–22), more ventral scales (30–32), and three enlarged thigh-scale rows.
About Assam:
Chief Minister (CM) – Himanta Biswa Sarma
Governor – Lakshman Prasad Acharya
Capital – Dispur
National Park (NP) – Kaziranga NP, Orang NP
