Cigaritis meghamalaiensis

Disclaimer: Copyright infringement not intended.

Context

• A new species of Silverline butterfly Cigaritis meghamalaiensis has been discovered at the Meghamalai hills in the Periyar landscape of southern Western Ghats.

Details

• The species is named after Meghamalai region.
• It was for the first time in three decades that a new species has been discovered at the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot.
• Meghamalai means 'cloud mountain', reflecting the montane habitat of this very local species, which is restricted to the sub-tropical evergreen 'sholas' or cloud forests of the Periyar landscape, and justifies the common name 'Cloud-forest Silverline'.

Cigaritis meghamalaiensis

• Cigaritis meghamalaiensis or the cloud-forest silverline is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae.

Description

• Cigaritis meghamalaiensis is distinguished from other species of the genus in peninsular South Asia, having the discal and postdiscal bands on the underside of the forewing being conjoined and parallel.
• It is also characterized by a continuous post-basal band on the underside of the hindwing, which doesn't reach up to the discal band. The dorsal side of the wings shows extensive blue markings in males.

Distribution

• meghamalaiensis has been described from the Meghamalai hills, in the southern part of the Western Ghats.
• It is found to be common in the Meghamalai of Tamil Nadu and in the nearby Periyar Tiger Reserve of Kerala.