Dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata) of Silent Valley National Park, Kerala, India and its environs

Abstract

The odonate diversity of the Silent Valley National Park (SVNP) in the Western Ghats (WG) of Kerala state, in southern India, is discussed. A total of 111 species of odonates (41 Zygoptera and 70 Anisoptera) including 29 endemics were recorded for the SVNP region, out of the 181 species (14 families, 87 genera with 68 WG endemics). SVNP harbours 53.37 per cent of WG and 61.34 per cent of the odonate diversity of Kerala. In addition, this includes 42.64 percent endemic odonates of Kerala and 35.80 percent of WG. With respect to IUCN Red List status, there were two vulnerable, three near threatened, 84 least concerned, 17 data deficient, and five species whose status was not assessed. Family Libellulidae (40 species) dominated the diversity, followed by Coenagrionidae and Gomphidae (16 species each). None of the species listed from SVNP is protected under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022.