ODONATA SPECIES (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: Recently, during the two-day Odonata survey that began in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR), approximately 50 Odonata species were identified on the first day.

Odonata Species

• About: Odonata is an insect order categorized into three distinct groups: Anisoptera (comprising dragonflies), Zygoptera (which includes damselflies), and Anisozygoptera (a relict group with only two known living species).
• Order of Insects: Odonata stands as one of the ancient orders of insects, with a long evolutionary history.
• Diversity of Odonata: Odonata is a highly diverse group, with over 6,000 known species exhibiting various characteristics.
• Global Distribution: Odonata species are found worldwide, ranging from the tropics, where they are most abundant and diverse, to the boreal forests of Siberia and North America. 
• Diversity in India: In India, Odonata is remarkably diverse, with more than 500 known species residing in the country.
• Habitats: Odonata species inhabit a wide range of environments, primarily freshwater settings like ponds, rivers, and lakes. They are typically associated with bodies of water during their larval stage.

Features of Odonata

• They have minute antennae.
• Their eyes are extremely large, occupying most of the head.
• Odonata possess two pairs of transparent membranous wings with numerous small veins.
• Their abdomen is long and slender.

Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR)

• Location: Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu, spanning 321 sq. km. at the tri-junction of Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
• Nestled on the Northeastern and Northwestern slopes of the Nilgiri Hills within the Western Ghats.
• An integral part of the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve, India's first Biosphere Reserve.
• Border Shared With: Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala) to the West, Bandipur Tiger Reserve (Karnataka) to the North, Nilgiris North Division to the South and East, and Gudalur Forest Division to the South West.
• Terrain: Characterized by undulating terrain, with elevations ranging from 960m to 1266m.