Cliffside Bambootail (Phylloneura rupestris)

The new species of damselfly, named Cliffside Bambootail, was discovered in the Ponmudi hills located in the Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala.

About Cliffside Bambootail (Phylloneura rupestris):

• It belongs to the group of damselflies known as bambootails.
• It is characterised by its long abdomen resembling bamboo stalks.
• Prior to this discovery, the genus Phylloneura was considered monotypic, with a single species known as the Myristica Bambootail (Phylloneura westermanni).
  • Myristica Bambootail is endemic to the Western Ghats and recorded only in the area between the Nilgiris Hills and Sharavathi Valley, north of the Palghat Gap.
  • It is classified as near-threatened according to the IUCN Red List.

Habitat and Behavior:

• Cliffside Bambootail exhibits distinct behaviour by laying eggs in moss beds in seasonal rills that flow over rock cliffs.
• This behaviour contrasts with the Myristica Bambootail, which lays eggs on the surface roots of riparian trees.

About Ponmudi hills:

• Ponmudi hills are part of the Agasthyamalai landscape, situated at the southernmost tip of the Western Ghats.
• The name translates to ‘Golden Hill’ or ‘Golden Peak’.
• They are identified as biodiversity-rich, and the discovery of the Cliffside Bambootail.

Ref: Source