Lepidocampa Sikkimensis

Lepidocampa Sikkimensis Latest News

Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) recently discovered a new species of Diplura named  Lepidocampa sikkimensis in the eastern Himalayas.

About Lepidocampa Sikkimensis

• It is a new species of Diplura discovered in Ravangla, Sikkim.
• Diplura are small, wingless, soil-dwelling arthropods.
• It represents the first time a species within this primitive hexapod group has been described by an Indian research team. 
• While 17 species had been previously documented within the country, all were historically described by foreign researchers.
• Morphological Distinctiveness: The species is distinguished by its unique arrangement of body scales, specific chaetotaxy (bristle patterns), and specialized appendage structures.
• Ecological Role: As primitive, blind hexapods, Diplurans (two-pronged bristletails) are fundamental to soil health, playing a critical role in nutrient cycling and the maintenance of soil structure.
• Beyond the description of a new species, the study provides a comprehensive update to Indian soil fauna records:
  • Rediscovery: The team successfully relocated a rare Indian Diplura subspecies, Lepidocampa juradii bengalensis, which had not been recorded in nearly 50 years.
  • Molecular Breakthrough: The study provides the first-ever DNA barcode data globally for an Indian Lepidocampa species, bridging a significant gap between traditional morphology and modern molecular phylogenetics.

Source: TS

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