Rare Spoon-tailed Duskhawker Dragonfly Discovered in Namdapha

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Researchers recorded the 1st verifiable photographic record of the Spoon-tailed Duskhawker dragonfly in India.
The discovery took place inside Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve located in Changlang district, Arunachal Pradesh.
Scientifically named Gynacantha basiguttata, this dragonfly belongs to the Aeshnidae family under the order Odonata.
The species is native to Southeast Asia and the Philippines, exhibiting crepuscular behavior by foraging during dawn and dusk.

Researchers recorded the 1st verifiable photographic record of the rare Spoon-tailed Duskhawker dragonfly in India.
They spotted this rare insect along the Miao-Vijaynagar Road inside Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh.

The Spoon-tailed Duskhawker (Gynacantha basiguttata) is a large predatory dragonfly species belonging to the Aeshnidae family within the insect order Odonata.
Scientists first described this species from the Philippines, and it is native to several regions across Southeast Asia.
It shows crepuscular behavior, which means it remains active mainly during dusk and dawn.

This dragonfly lives in dense tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen rainforests near forest streams, temporary pools, and marshy wetlands.
It prefers shaded microhabitats and hangs vertically from foliage during daylight or cloudy hours.
Its geographic range spans Southeast Asia, and its presence is now confirmed in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh.

Male dragonflies feature spoon-shaped anal appendages called cerci that widen at the tips to grasp females during mating.
The head features a clear black T-shaped mark on the frons, serving as a primary taxonomic identifier.
It has a plain olive-green thorax without stripes, which separates it from related species like Gynacantha khasiaca.
Its clear wings show amber or brownish shading and dark spots near the base.
Its specialized flight behavior allows it to hunt small insects in low light while resting under tree canopies during the day.