After 33 years, a new species of silverline butterfly has been found in the Western Ghats.
CHENNAI, JAN 14 : A new species of butterfly was discovered Western Ghats get a new species of butterfly after 33 years and is called “The Cloud Forest Silverline”
An official release here said a new species of Silver line butterfly namely “Cigaritis meghamalaiensis” has been discovered in the Megamalai division of Srivilliputtur Megamalai Tiger Reserve.
This marks the first discovery of a new butterfly species in the Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu in 33 years.
The new species is named after the region – Megamalai which means‘cloud mountain’.
With this discovery the total number of butterflies in Western Ghats will rise to 337 species, including 40 Western Ghats endemics.
Researchers from Vanam, an NGO based in Theni led by Dr.Kalesh Sadasivam, S.Ramasamy Kamaya and Dr.C.P. Rajkumar made the discovery.
This has been published in the current issue of peer reviewed, journal“ENTOMON”.
The discovery was made by the researchers with the support provided by the Chief Wildlife Warden Srinivas Reddy, Deputy Director, Anand and Field Director, Ms Padmawathe, the release said.(UNI)
