Scientists have discovered and described a new butterfly species, Chonala albistricta (Narrow-banded Wall), from Arunachal Pradesh’s Lower Dibang Valley.

About the Discovery

• Researchers identified a previously unknown butterfly species from Mayodia Pass in Lower Dibang Valley, Arunachal Pradesh.
  •  Mayodia Pass is a part of the Eastern Himalaya Biodiversity hotspot.
• The species has been scientifically named Chonala albistricta and formally described in the journal Zootaxa.
• It is the 10th known species of the genus Chonala globally and only the second species recorded from India.
• Its common name, Narrow-banded Wall, is derived from the narrow white band present on its forewing.

About the Genus Chonala

• Chonala is a small and rare genus of mountain butterflies found in the Himalayan and adjoining Asian highlands.
• These butterflies inhabit high-altitude mountain passes and occur in small, isolated populations.
• Species are difficult to study because they:
  • Have a short flight period.
  • Occur in remote and inaccessible habitats.
  • Exist in low population densities.

Key Personalities Involved

• The study was led by Krushnamegh Kunte of the National Centre for Biological Sciences.
• He is also associated with the Butterflies of India Initiative, a major citizen-science platform for documenting butterfly diversity.

Exam Hook (Prelims)

The Eastern Himalaya region is recognised globally as part of which biodiversity hotspot?
Answer: Himalayan Biodiversity Hotspot.

One-Line Wrap

The discovery of Chonala albistricta in Arunachal Pradesh highlights the rich yet underexplored biodiversity of the Eastern Himalaya and reinforces the importance of conservation-driven scientific exploration.