Dragonflies of Dragon’s Blood Island: Atlas of the Odonata of the Socotra Archipelago (Yemen)

A significant decline in dragonfly species has been observed in areas of the Socotra Archipelago, particularly the Hadiboh Plain, where human development pressures are strongest. This study updates the distribution of the endemic Socotra Bluet (Azuragrion granti), a bioindicator of pristine lotic waters, and highlights the archipelago's dragonfly fauna as a potential flagship for local aquatic biodiversity conservation. Researchers compiled 841 records over 123 years, revealing that eastern Socotra supports higher species richness due to year-round suitable aquatic habitats. The study also introduces a new record of an Oriental Anax, suggesting further discoveries may lie within the archipelago's dragonfly fauna. A geodatabase and online platform (www.dragonfliesofsocotra.com) have been developed to facilitate monitoring and conservation efforts.

Van Damme, K., Vahalík, P., Ketelaar, R., Jeziorski, P., Bouwman, J., Morris, M., Suleiman, A. S., & Dumont, H. J. (2020). Dragonflies of Dragon’s Blood Island: Atlas of the Odonata of the Socotra Archipelago (Yemen). Rendiconti Lincei. Scienze Fisiche E Naturali, 31(3), 571–605. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12210-020-00942-6