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New Damselfly Species ‘Caliphaea Sinuofurcata’ Discovered in Arunachal Pradesh.

Environment | Dated: 01 Jun 2025

In May 2025, scientists identified a new species of damselfly, Caliphaea sinuofurcata, in Arunachal Pradesh (AR), marking a notable addition to India’s biodiversity.

🎯 Key Highlights:

  • - The species, commonly known as the “Bearded Bronzeback,” was described based on two male and one female- specimens collected from the Upper Siang and Lower Dibang Valley districts of AR.
  • - The species is only the second of its genus, Caliphaea, recorded in India and the first, Caliphaea confusa, was documented more than 165 years ago.
  • - The discovery of Caliphaea sinuofurcata was published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Zootaxa.

💡 Other Important Facts:

  • (i) The species name, sinuofurcata, is derived from Latin, with “sinuosus” meaning wavy or sinuous and “furcatus” meaning forked.
  • (ii) Caliphaea sinuofurcata is visually striking, featuring a metallic copper-green body, slender brown-tinted wings, and yellow and olive markings. Both male and female individuals have dense black bristles resembling a beard around the mouthparts (labium and labrum), inspiring the proposed common name: “Bearded Bronzeback.”
  • (iii) This damselfly species inhabits small, rocky, seasonal streams in broadleaf evergreen forests at elevations between 1200 to 1300 meters above sea level. Individuals were observed flying low and perching on vegetation near streams, typically in dappled sunlight conditions.

📚 Test Your Knowledge:

In which Indian state was the new damselfly species ‘Caliphaea sinuofurcata’ recently discovered?

Correct Answer: Arunachal Pradesh

🚀 Quick Recap: