The species was first sighted in 2008, followed by an extensive research in 2021
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Photo: Rohit Girotra / National Centre for Biological Sciences A new species of silverline butterfly has been identified in the biodiversity hotspots in India’s Western Ghats and described in a new research paper.
This unique species, named Cigaritis conjuncta or the “conjoined silverline”, was first spotted in 2008 but came under extensive research in 2021. The discovery was made by a team of scientists from the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS-TIFR) in Bengaluru, in collaboration with researchers from the Indian Foundation for Butterflies Trust.
The researchers found five male and four female specimens of the conjoined silverline butterfly in Honey valley, Kodagu district of Karnataka. They published their findings in the journal Zootaxa.
On the upperside, nearly half of the top wing is black, and there's a shiny blue colour on the lower wings. There's an orange patch with two black spots on the lower wings. The outer edge of the top wing doesn't have any orange markings.
On the underside, which is the side of the wings facing down, bands of colours are visible. The bands on the top wings are fused together without separation, and the lower wings have spots that are connected to form broad bands with irregular outlines. The underside also features bands with silver lines down the centre and thin black borders along the edges.
Krushnamegh Kunte, one of the authors and researchers, said in a press statement that he initially encountered and photographed this butterfly in 2008 during a field trip to Iruppu Falls in Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, but at that time, they lacked the necessary research permits for an in-depth study.
In 2021, more sightings of the butterfly prompted the research team to conduct a thorough investigation, leading to the discovery of this newly described species.
During their field research, the scientists identified 30 individuals of the conjoined silverline butterfly, which belongs to the Lycaenidae family. In India, there are 16 species of silverline butterflies, with 11 of them found in both peninsular India and Sri Lanka.
While these butterfly species are widespread in India, some are limited to the Himalayan region. The newly described conjoined silverline butterfly is only the second endemic species discovered in the Western Ghats and is primarily found in dense mid-elevation evergreen forests, indicating specialised habitat preferences.
Although the conjoined silverline appears similar to other silverline butterflies from a distance, closer examination reveals distinct wing patterns that set it apart. This unique characteristic, consisting of fused bands on the underside of the wings, led to the species being named ”conjoined silverline”.
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