Lamelligomphus nilgiriensis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lamelligomphus nilgiriensis |
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| Male | |
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Infraorder: | Anisoptera |
| Family: | Gomphidae |
| Genus: | Lamelligomphus |
| Species: |
L. nilgiriensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Lamelligomphus nilgiriensis (Fraser, 1922)
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| Synonyms | |
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Onychogomphus nilgiriensis Fraser, 1922 |
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The Lamelligomphus nilgiriensis is a type of dragonfly. It belongs to the Gomphidae family, also known as clubtail dragonflies. This special insect is found only in the cool, clear streams of the Western Ghats mountains in India.
Scientists once thought this dragonfly belonged to a different group called Onychogomphus. However, after careful study of the male dragonfly's tail parts, they decided it should be placed in the Lamelligomphus group. This change was suggested by a scientist named Fraser in 1934.
Contents
What Does This Dragonfly Look Like?
The Lamelligomphus nilgiriensis is a medium-sized dragonfly. It has striking bottle-green eyes. Its body, called the thorax, is black with bright greenish-yellow markings.
Thorax Markings
- There's a yellow band near its head, called a mesothoracic collar.
- An angled yellow stripe runs from this collar. It usually connects to the collar.
- If the stripe is separate, its lower end is square, not pointy. This helps tell it apart from a similar dragonfly, Melligomphus acinaces.
- There is no yellow stripe on its shoulder area.
- On the sides of its body, there are two wide yellow stripes. A broad black stripe separates these yellow stripes. This black stripe has a yellow spot at its top.
Abdomen Colors
The dragonfly's long body, called the abdomen, is black. It has bright yellow markings.
- The first segment has a yellow triangle on top and a large yellow spot on its side.
- The second segment has a yellow stripe running down its back. This stripe is wider in the middle.
- The third segment has a big yellow spot near its base on top.
- Segments four to six each have two yellow triangles on top, close to their base.
- Segment seven is almost half yellow at its base.
- Segment eight has yellow spots on its sides near the base.
- Segments nine and ten have no yellow marks.
Tail Parts (Anal Appendages)
The tail parts, called anal appendages, are black. But the top and outer parts of the upper appendages are bright yellow. These upper parts are mostly straight. Then, they curl strongly downwards and backwards at the end. This makes them touch the top of the lower tail parts. The lower tail parts are black. They first curve downwards, then bend at a right angle, and extend to overlap the upper parts. Female dragonflies look very similar to the males.
You can tell this dragonfly apart from Melligomphus acinaces by looking closely at the shape of its tail parts.
Where Does This Dragonfly Live?
This dragonfly likes to live near shady mountain streams. It often rests on rocks or small branches in the middle of the stream.
More About Dragonflies
- List of odonates of India
- List of odonata of Kerala
 | Emma Amos |
 | Edward Mitchell Bannister |
 | Larry D. Alexander |
 | Ernie Barnes |
