Devadatta adii Joshi, Sawant & Kunte
Creators: name: Sawant, Dattaprasad
name: Joshi, Shantanu
name: Pawar, Ujwala
name: Naik, Pratiksha
name: Khan, Fahim
name: Nawge, Viraj
name: Kunte, Krushnamegh
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Odonata
Amphipterygidae
Devadatta
Devadatta adii

description: Devadatta adii Joshi, Sawant & Kunte
(Figs. 1–7)
Holotype. 1♂ (IBC-BR299), Ramsing, Upper Siang District, Arunachal Pradesh, India (28.6337 N, 94.957 0 E; 1090 m a.s.l.), 23.v.2022, Fahim Khan, Krushnamefh Kunte, & Viraj Nawge leg.
Paratypes. 2 ♂♂ (IBC-BR297, IBC-BR300), location, date of collection and collector same as holotype; 1 ♂ (IBC-BR383) same location and collectors as holotype, 22.v.2022; 1 ♂ (IBC-BR451), same location as holotype, 29.v.2022 Shantanu Joshi leg.; 1 ♀ (IBC-BR314) all details are the same as holotype. 3♀♀ (IBC-BX307, IBC-BX309, IBC-BX313) Sirring Nala, Upper Siang District, Arunachal Pradesh, India (28.6642 N, 94.994 3 E; 460 m a.s.l.), 23.v.2024, Krushnamegh Kunte, Fahim Khan, Nitin Kawthankar, Yangchen Lhamo, Yuktha JG leg.; 1♀ (IBC-BX390) Yinkiong to Likor Road, Upper Siang District, Arunachal Pradesh, India (28.7639 N, 94.899 9 E; 360 m a.s.l.), 02.vi.2024, Krushnamegh Kunte, Fahim Khan, Nitin Kawthankar, Yangchen Lhamo, Yuktha JG leg.
Etymology. The specific epithet ‘ adii’ honours the indigenous Adi tribe of the Upper Siang District, Arunachal Pradesh, India and neighbouring areas.
Proposed English Name. Golden Grissette: The common English name is given due to the golden yellow pterothorax of the male.
Description of holotype male IBC-BR299 (Figs. 1–2)
Head (Fig. 1a). Head black, marked as follows: labrum yellowish brown; lower half of mandibles pale blue; labium bluish-yellow except for a round dark area at the center of the upper margin in life; anteclypeus pale blue; postclypeus blackish-brown; frons black. Median ocellus creamy yellow, rest shiny brown; antennae black, upper margin of pedicel pale bluish yellow. Eyes upper half brown, lower half grey in life, darker post-mortem.
Thorax. Prothorax (Fig. 1b, d). Anterior and posterior lobes black, middle lobes brown; propleuron dark brown with downward projection at posterior end: posterior margin pruinosed bluish-white in life, dark brown to black post-mortem.
Pterothorax (Fig. 1c, e–f). Mesostigmal plates and mesepisternum matt black with greenish metallic sheen; yellow stripe on mesepisternum above mesopleural suture; pterothorax laterally golden yellow in life, pale brown post-mortem; upper part of mesepimeron pale brown, faint brown markings on the interpleural suture and anterior part of metepisternum; mesinfraepisternum brown, metinfraepisternum yellow. Pterothorax ventrally pale yellow, small black spot at posterior edge.
Legs. Coxae pale brown with pruinosed blue in life, pale brown post-mortem; femur, tibiae brown. Tibiofemoral joint, tarsus and spines dark brown.
Wings (Fig. 1c–g) very faintly tinted with brown; venation black; Pt trapezoid, upper margin is ½ of lower margin, blackish brown, nervures black, covers almost 3 ½ cells below; a slight bulge in the upper wing margin just proximal to pt on anterior side. Arculus at level of Ax 4–5. Ax 7 in right FW, 8 in rest. Px 34–35 in FW, 25–26 in HW.
Abdomen (Fig. 1c). Pale brown, marked with S1 pale brown, minute small black spots on both ends of lower margin of tergite; S2 with a darker brown lateral patch; S3–6 brownish black lateral stripe, fainter on S4–5, S7–10 black, S6–10 bluish pruinescence, S9–10 almost completely covered in bluish pruinescence in life.
Genitalia (Fig. 2a–e). First and second segments ventrally and dorsally dark brown. Third segment pale yellow. Apical segment translucent medially raised on dorsal side ending with a hood, lamina curved anteriorly and extended laterally, segmented in two parts on both sides, upper part forming a shoulder and ending in a thin filamentous arm slightly thicker at apex. Lower part canine-shaped, rounded, curved outward & laterally.
Caudal appendages (Figs. 2f–h). Cerci black, bent inwards at midpoint making ~90° angle with proximal part; cerci apex rounded and expanded; inner margin of proximal part has bulging and numerous small black spines; cerci length more than S10; paraproct dark brown to black, 1⁄2 of the cerci length, broad at base, apex sharply pointed and curved inwards.
Measurements. Abdomen without appendages 35–36; HW 29–30; total length 45–46.
Variation in Males (Figs. 3–4):
Though in life all males have similar golden yellow lateral pterothorax, post-mortem it changes to dull brown in some individuals (Figs. 1c, 3b). IBC-BR297, IBC-BR 383 males have brown upper part of mesepimeron, whereas IBC-BR300 and IBC-BR451 have clear golden yellow thorax without any post-mortem browning (Figs. 3–4). IBC-BR 297 male has 9–10 Ax in FW and HW and 34 Px in FW, 27 Px in HW. IBC-BR 300 male has 7–8 Ax in FW and HW and 31–32 Px in FW and 26–27 Px in HW (Fig. 3). Similarly, there are 37 Px in FW and 28 Px in HW in IBC-BR 383 male and 36 Px in FW and 27 Px in HW in IBC-BR 451 male (Fig. 3). Both these males have 8 Ax in all wings.
Measurements.
IBC-BR297: Abdomen without appendages 36–37; HW 32–33; total length 46–47.
IBC-BR300: Abdomen without appendages 31–32; HW 28; total length 41–42.
IBC-BR383: Abdomen without appendages 31–32; HW 29–30; total length 43–44.
IBC-BR451: Abdomen without appendages 32–33; HW 28–29; total length 41–42.
Description of paratype female IBC-BX390 (Figs. 5–6)
Head (Fig. 5a–b). Labrum, labium and mandible pale blue in life, brown post-mortem, labrum dark brown post-mortem; anteclypeus, postclypeus and frons black with blue shine. Rest of head black. Ocelli brown, antennae black. Eyes upper half brown, lower half grey in life, darker post-mortem. Postocular area and occiput black.
Thorax. Prothorax (Fig. 5c–e). Similar to male. Slightly pruinosed in life.
Pterothorax (Fig. 5f–g). Similar to male, except browner laterally. Mesepisternum black with bronze tinge; brownish yellow stripe on mesepisternum just above the mesopleural suture which is greyish blue in life; upper part of mesepimeron brown; faint brown marking on interpleural suture; rest of the lateral pterothorax pale brown.
Legs. Coxae brown. Femur, tibiae brown with bluish pruinescence in life, dark brown post-mortem. Tibiofemoral joint, tarsus and spines blackish brown.
Wings (Fig. 6a). Hyaline, similar to male; Pt pale brown. Ax 7 in all wings. Px 34–35 in FW, 25–26 in HW.
Abdomen (Fig. 5c). S1–2 dorsally yellowish brown, laterally brown, S3–7 brown with faint, pale yellowish basal rings; dorsum of S6 with a large yellow, rounded, dorsal marking towards posterior margin; S9–10 black; abdomen ventrally pale brown.
Caudal appendages (Fig. 6b–d). Cerci short, conical, pointed, black, less than length of S10. Paraproct very small, globular, brown; ovipositor brown.
Measurements. Abdomen without appendages 30–31; HW 29–30; total length 39–40.
Variation in Females (Fig. 7):
Stripe on mesepisternum is usually greyish blue in life, it has variable post-mortem colours (Fig. 7). IBC-BX307 and IBC-BX 309 females have pale bluish yellow stripe on mesepisternum, whereas IBC-BR314 and IBC-BX313 have brownish yellow stripe on mesepisternum (Fig. 7). IBC-BR 314 female has 7–8 Ax in all the wings and 31–33 Px in FW and 23–27 Px in HW. IBC-BX 307 female has clearer wings and 7–8 Ax and 33–36, whereas IBC-BX 309 female has faintly brown enfumed wings and 7–10 Ax and 34–36 Px. IBC-BX 313 female has 8–10 Ax and 34–37 Px.
Measurements.
IBC-BR314: Abdomen without appendages 28–29; HW 24–25; total length 34–35.
IBC-BX307: Abdomen without appendages 31–32; HW 31–32; total length 40–41.
IBC-BX309: Abdomen without appendages 32–32; HW 30–31; total length 40–41.
IBC-BX313: Abdomen without appendages 31–32; HW 31–22; total length 41–42.
Differential diagnosis
Devadatta adii is most similar to D. glaucinotata in morphological features and caudal appendages. Following characters distinguish it from D. glaucinotata. In males, (a) cerci curved at ~90° angle near midpoint in D. adii (Fig. 8a), cerci less curved and at an obtuse angle near midpoint in D. glaucinotata (Fig. 8h); (b) inner border of cerci has numerous small spines at anterior 1/3 rd in D. adii (Fig. 8a), inner border of cerci is smooth in D. glaucinotata (Fig. 8h); (c) segment 3 of genitalia is broad anteriorly and filaments are relatively longer (~ 0.75mm) in D. adii, whereas anterior part of segment 3 of genitalia is narrow and rectangular shape and filaments are shorter in D. glaucinotata; (d) paraproct is slightly longer than 1⁄2 the length of cerci length with sharply pointed apex in D. adii, paraproct slightly shorter than 1⁄2 the length of cerci with round apex in D. glaucinotata; (e) pterothorax of D. adii is yellow laterally without any distinct black marking on second lateral suture (Fig. 9a), whereas the lateral pterothorax of D. glaucinotata is bluish grey with a black stripe above the second lateral suture (Fig. 9h); (f) prothorax of D. adii is brownish black, whereas D. glaucinotata has creamy white spots on median lobe; (g) wing tips of D. adii are transparent, whereas wing tips of D. glaucinotata have brown pigmentation.
Devadatta adii male is easily distinguished from males of D. aran, D. argyoides, D. basilanensis, D. clavicauda, D. cyanocephala, D. ducatrix, D. kompieri, D. multinervosa, D. podolestoides, D. somoh, D. tanduk, and D. yokoii by its characteristic yellow lateral pterothorax (Fig 9). All the other species have black pterothorax with intermittent pale creamy yellow markings. Additionally, D. aran, D. basilanensis, D. clavicauda, D. multinervosa, D. podolestoides, D. somoh, and D. tanduk have a very short paraproct which is barely visible in dorsal view (Fig. 8). Wing tips of all Devadatta spp., except D. multinervosa are variably pigmented. This feature is absent in D. adii.
Additionally, D. adii, D. ducatrix, D. kompieri and D. yokoii have similar caudal appendages and genital ligula (Fig. 8). However, the spinous inner margin of cerci, broader anterior part of segment 3 and longer filaments of penile organ and transparent wing tips help to distinguish the new species from the latter three.
Devadatta multinervosa is known only from the holotype male which is currently deposited in the Natural History Museum (NHM), London, UK (Fig. 10). Although the cerci of this specimen are damaged and unsuitable for comparison (Natural History Museum 2024), its larger size, black pterothorax, shorter paraproct, and higher nodal index (Px 44–49 in FW, 37–39 in HW, Ax 13 in FW, 11–13 in HW) distinguish it from D. adii.
Devadatta adii female is readily distinguished from all described females of Devadatta spp. by its yellow lateral pterothorax. Moreover, the female of D. glaucinotata can be distinguished from that of D. adii by the dark brown lateral pterothorax (Kitagawa & Katatani 2013).
Habitat and habits
Devadatta adii was observed in forested streams and along a waterfall in the Ramsing, Sirring Nala and Yinkiong to Likor Road areas of Upper Siang District. The waterfall was surrounded by tall grasses, where males of D. adii were observed perching at heights ranging from 2 to 10 feet above the ground (Fig. 11a). Females were observed perching on twigs and fern leaves at a different location (Fig. 11b). The new species exhibits flight characteristics similar to other members of the Devadattidae family. Individuals were active in the morning and afternoon, and were observed in both shaded and sunny areas. The specific location of D. adii is accessed via a rugged road bordered by cliff forests on one side and a deep valley on the other (Fig. 12). Other species like Calicnemia eximia (Selys, 1863), and Protosticta samtsensis Gurung & Phan, 2023 were commonly observed to co-occur with it.
Distribution (Fig. 13)
Currently, D. adii has been found only in Ramsing, Sirring Nala and Yinkiong to Likor Road areas of Upper Siang District. However, the species may also inhabit other parts of the district. Figure 13 depicts the distribution of all Devadatta spp. based on distribution data from International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN 2024). Devadatta adii is the northernmost and westernmost distributed species in this genus; all other species are distributed across South East Asia (Dow et al. 2015).
description: Published as part of Sawant, Dattaprasad, Joshi, Shantanu, Pawar, Ujwala, Naik, Pratiksha, Khan, Fahim, Nawge, Viraj & Kunte, Krushnamegh, 2024, Devadatta adii sp. nov. (Odonata: Zygoptera: Devadattidae) from Upper Siang District, Arunachal Pradesh, India, pp. 571-589 in Zootaxa 5519 (4) on pages 572-587, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5519.4.6, http://zenodo.org/record/13916293