Idionyx galeatus

Idionyx galeatus
Male
Conservation status
Endangered  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Odonata
Infraorder:	Anisoptera
Superfamily:	Libelluloidea
Family:	Synthemistidae
Genus:	Idionyx
Species:	I. galeatus
Binomial name
Idionyx galeatus Fraser, 1924
Synonyms
Idionyx galeata Fraser, 1924 (Missp.)

Idionyx galeatus ^[2] is a species of dragonfly in the family Synthemistidae. It is known only from the Kodagu district, South Canara, Wayanad and Nilgiris in Western Ghats of India. ^{[3] [1]}

Description and habitat

It is a medium-sized dragonfly with emerald-green eyes. Its thorax is metallic green with a golden reflex. There is no humeral stripe; but an oblique citron-yellow stripe bordering the antero-lateral suture, and a similar stripe on the lower posterior border of metepimeron. Beneath the side is blackish, striped with yellow. Abdomen is black. The borders of segment 2 ventrally yellow, and also a narrow incomplete annule on the apical border. Anal appendages are black. ^[4]

The male is easily distinguished by the shape of its anal appendages, and the female by the unique shape of its vesicle. ^[4]

Fraser (1936) states that most of the specimens were observed flying quite low over coffee bushes or along the borders of ferny banks. ^{[4] [5]} The species is usually found flying over torrent streams and open forest patches on mountain tops. They fly in short circles close to ground during early mornings and late evenings. ^[4]

See also

• List of odonates of India
• List of odonata of Kerala

References

1. Kakkasery, F. (2011). "Idionyx galeata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2011 e.T175163A7115903. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T175163A7115903.en . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
2. Paulson, D.; Schorr, M.; Abbott, J.; Bota-Sierra, C.; Deliry, C.; Dijkstra, K.-D.; Lozano, F. "World Odonata List". OdonataCentral. University of Alabama.
3. K.A., Subramanian; K.G., Emiliyamma; R., Babu; C., Radhakrishnan; S.S., Talmale (2018). Atlas of Odonata (Insecta) of the Western Ghats, India. Zoological Survey of India. pp. 262–263. ISBN   978-81-8171-495-4.
4. C FC Lt. Fraser (1936). The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma, Odonata Vol. III. Red Lion Court, Fleet Street, London: Taylor and Francis. pp.  226-227.
5. C FC Lt. Fraser (1924). A Survey of the Odonate (Dragonfly) Fauna of Western India and Descriptions of Thirty New Species (PDF). pp. 517–519.