Key Facts
Rediscovery Details
- Species: Gynacantha khasiaca (Long-tailed Duskhawker)
- Location: Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve, Changlang district, Arunachal Pradesh
- Last recorded: 1914 from the erstwhile Abor Hills
- Distance from original site: Approximately 600 km east
- Significance: First confirmed sighting after 112 years
Gynacantha khasiaca Characteristics
- Belongs to the order Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies)
- Features two compound eyes with thousands of tiny lenses and photoreceptor clusters
- Has pale brown and green colouration
- Exhibits crepuscular behaviour (active during twilight)
- Known for strong visual ability
Global and Indian Odonata Diversity
Global Statistics
- Total Odonata species: 6,442 species across 693 genera
- Genus Gynacantha: Comprises 92 species globally
- ~30 species in Southeast Asia
- ~10 species in India
Indian Odonata Statistics
- 504 species and 27 subspecies of Odonata
- Distributed across 152 genera and 18 families
- Arunachal Pradesh alone has 110 species
Species Recorded During the Study
- Trithemis aurora
- Neurothemis fulvia
- Orthetrum glaucum
- Aristocypha spuria
- Neurobasis chinensis
Total: 17 Odonata species documented
Distribution of Gynacantha khasiaca
Outside India
- Bangladesh
- Myanmar
- Nepal
Within India
- Arunachal Pradesh
- Assam
- Maharashtra
- Meghalaya
- Uttarakhand
- West Bengal
Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve
Geographical Details
- Located in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh
- Situated along the India-Myanmar border
- Bounded by the Dapha Bum range of the Mishmi Hills and the Patkai range
- Drained by the Noa-Dihing River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra
Protected Status History
- 1972: Declared as Wildlife Sanctuary
- 1983: Elevated to National Park and Tiger Reserve
Biodiversity Highlights
- Four big cat species:
- Tiger
- Leopard
- Snow leopard
- Clouded leopard
- Hoolock Gibbon: India's only ape species (endangered)
- Rare birds: White-winged Wood Duck, Great Indian Hornbill
Vegetation Zones
- Tropical evergreen forests
- Moist deciduous forests
- Subtropical forests
- Temperate forests
- Alpine vegetation
Ecological Significance
Dragonflies and damselflies are crucial components of freshwater ecosystems:
- Function as predators (controlling mosquito and insect populations)
- Serve as prey in the aquatic food web
- Act as bioindicators of ecosystem health and water quality
- Play vital role in maintaining ecological balance
Constitutional and Policy Framework
- Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Provides legal protection to wildlife species
- Biological Diversity Act, 2002: Ensures conservation of biological resources
- Project Tiger: Namdapha is a Tiger Reserve, contributing to tiger conservation
- Biodiversity Hotspots: Eastern Himalaya is a recognized global biodiversity hotspot
Significance for India
- Biodiversity Conservation: Highlights India's rich endemic species diversity
- Protected Area Network: Demonstrates effectiveness of wildlife sanctuaries and national parks
- Ecological Research: Opens new avenues for Odonata research in Northeast India
- Bioindication: Dragonfly presence indicates healthy freshwater ecosystems
- Conservation Priorities: Emphasizes need for continued protection of Northeast India's biodiversity
Key Terminology
- Crepuscular: Active during dawn and dusk
- Endemic: Species found only in a particular region
- Bioindicator: Species whose presence/absence indicates ecosystem health
- Odonata: Order comprising dragonflies and damselflies
- Dapha Bum: Highest peak in the Mishmi Hills range