Guwahati: Scientists have discovered three new species of dragonflies in Northeast India, including one from a forest trail in Assam and two from a remote valley in Arunachal Pradesh—underscoring the region’s status as one of India’s richest yet least understood biodiversity hotspots.
The research team comprised Shantanu Joshi, Krushnamegh Kunte, Dattaprasad Sawant, Ujwala Pawar, Fahim Khan, Rejoice Gassah and Vijay Anand Ismavel.
“We present three new species of the rare dragonfly genus Sarasaeschna from India,” the research team said, describing findings from surveys conducted across Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh.
New Species and Key Findings
Two of the newly described species—the Clouded Boghawker (Sarasaeschna nuboides) and the Siang Boghawker (Sarasaeschna sigotaayo)—were observed around a small, shallow forest pond in Arunachal Pradesh’s Siang Valley, where dragonflies were seen flying rapidly and perching close to water.
The third species, the Long-tailed Boghawker (Sarasaeschna dosdewaensis), was discovered in Assam’s Karimganj district, an area increasingly recognised as an odonate diversity hotspot.
“These dragonflies are found in dense, wet forests and have historically been under-sampled,” the researchers noted, adding that their fast flight and preference for heavily vegetated habitats make them difficult to detect in the wild.
The study also revisits the Khasi Boghawker (Sarasaeschna khasiana), first described in 1968. The team confirmed its presence in the Khasi Hills of Meghalaya for the first time since its original description, while also determining that a specimen earlier identified as this species from Assam was, in fact, a new species—now described as S. dosdewaensis.
Why the Discovery Matter
The findings add to a growing list of discoveries from Arunachal Pradesh’s Siang Valley, which researchers say is emerging as an exceptionally rich biodiversity hotspot.
“The two species described here mark the milestone of 10 new species identified from a small area of the Siang Valley,” the team said, noting that over 45 non-dragonfly species have also been documented from the region in the past 15 years.
“These discoveries suggest that this region may harbour some of the highest numbers of undescribed species in India, many of which could be microendemic,” they added.
Significantly, several of these discoveries were made outside formally protected areas. “The fact that new species are being found on the outskirts of Mouling National Park, in community-owned forests, and even near roadsides around Sohra highlights the importance of both protected and community-managed landscapes,” the researchers said.
The study also emphasises the growing role of local naturalists and community participation in biodiversity research. “The involvement of local naturalists can leverage local knowledge and strengthen conservation outcomes,” the team noted, pointing to collaborations with people from the region, including contributors from the species’ type localities.
Dragonflies are key indicators of freshwater ecosystem health, and their presence in forest streams and small water bodies highlights the ecological importance of these habitats. “Our observations suggest these species are closely associated with forest streams and nearby habitats, though more research is needed,” the team added.
With increasing pressure on these ecosystems, scientists warn that many species may remain undocumented—and potentially at risk—without sustained research and conservation efforts.
From a roadside forest trail in Assam to a quiet pond in Arunachal Pradesh, the discovery of these dragonflies underscores that Northeast India’s landscapes continue to hold significant, yet unexplored, biological diversity.
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