12 Journal on New Biological Reports 1(1): 12-16 (2012) ISSN 2319 – 1104 (Online) New Records of Dragonflies (Insecta: Odonata: Anisoptera) From Chhatarpur District, Bundelkhand, Madhya Pradesh, India with Their Conservation Status and Distribution Akhlaq Husain*, Hishmi Jamil Husain** and Gaurav Sharma*** *(formerly associated with Zoological Survey of India) 41, Hari Vihar, Vijay Park, Dehra Dun– 248 001. **Rio Tinto, 3 rd Floor, The Capital Court, Munirka, New Delhi-110 067. ***Zoological Survey of India, 535, New Alipore, Kolkata-700 053. (Received on: 4 May, 2012; accepted on: 28 June, 2012) ABSTRACT The present communication deals with the dragonflies of Chhatarpur district, Bundelkhand Division, Madhya Pradesh (India), all of which are the new records for the district and some to the Division. Interestingly, some of these species are found common both with western (Gulf and around) and south-east Asian countries. Further, as regards their conservation status, none of these species is ‘Threatened’ under IUCN Red List. Key Words: New Records, Dragonflies, Bundelkhand, Conservation INTRODUCTION The Odonate fauna of Madhya Pradesh State (Central India) and around has attracted the attention of various workers during the past (Mitra, 1988, 1995; Srivastava & Suri Babu, 1997; Suri Babu & Srivastava, 2001; Mishra, 2007; Prasad, 1966; Prasad & Mishra, 2008; Tiple et al., 2008; Tiple et al., 2012) but no record from Chhatarpur district in Bundelkhand Division is available. In the present communication an attempt has been made to study and identify dragonflies (Anisopterans) of Chhatarpur district, based on photographs provided by one of the authors (HJH). These belong to six species, six genera under a single family (Libellulidae) and recorded here for the first time from the district and out of these four species viz. Orthetrum pruinosum neglectum, Potamarcha congener, Diplacodes trivialis and Trithemis aurora are new to the Division. Fortunately, none of these species is Threatened and all fall under ‘Least Concern’ of ‘Low Risk Category’ of IUCN Red List. Systematic account with conservation status and distribution Order: Odonata Fabricius, 1793 Suborder: Epiprocta Lohmann, 1996 Infraorder: Anisoptera Selys, 1854 Family: Libellulidae Rambur, 1842 Subfamily: Libellulinae Genus: Orthetrum Newman, 1833 1. Orthetrum pruinosum neglectum (Rambur, 1842) Crimson-tailed Marsh Hawk Libellula neglecta Rambur, 1842. Ins. Nevrop.: 86 ________________________________________ Correspondence: Emails:*drakhlaqhusain@gmail.com **hishmi.husain@riotinto.com ***drgaurav.zsi.india@gmail.com Libellula petalura Brauer, 1865.Verh. zool.-bot. Ges. Wien, 15: 506. Libellula pruinosum Brauer, 1865. Verh. Zool.-bot. Ges. Wien, 15: 1013 Orthoterum pruinosum, Kirby, 1886. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 24: 554. Orthoterum petalura, Kirby, 1890. Cat. Odon.: 39. Libella pruinosa clelia Selys, 1891. Ann. Mus. Civ. Genova, 30: 461. Orthetrum pruinosum ceylanicum Forster, 1903. Ann. Mus. Hungar: 541. Orthoterum schneideri Forster, 1903. Ann. Mus. Hungar: 541. Orthetrum pruinosum neglectum, Ris, 1909. Cat. Coll. Selys. fasc., 9: 181, 293, 240; Fraser, 1936. Faun. Brit. India Odonata., 3: 311-312; Mishra, 2007. Fauna of Madhya Pradesh (including Chhatisgarh), State Fauna Series, 15 (part-1): 259, 271 (Raigarh and Sarguja districts); Prasad & Mishra, 2008. Faunal Diversity of Jabalpur District, Madhya Pradesh, ZSI Publi.: 78, 85-86 (Jabalpur + Seoni and Umaria dists.). Conservation Status: IUCN Red List: Least Concern (as Orthetrum pruinosum) (Sharma, 2010). Material Examined: 1 ex., Chhatarpur district, Bundelkhand Division, Madhya Pradesh. Diagnostic Features: Robust species with unique violet abdomen; wings hyaline enfumed with pale- brown toward apices in aged adults and basal marking extending distalwards in hind wing, pterostigma reddish-brown to black over two cells. Male: Frons dark brown to black; prothorax and thorax reddish-brown to dull purple Basal marking in hind wing reddish-brown Female: Frons pale olivaceous-brown; thorax reddish brown or dull ochreous with a faint brown