← Back to ArticlesPaper Highlight

Papuathemis: A New Genus Established for Former “Diplacina” Species from the Moluccas and Papua

Papuathemis is a new genus established for former Diplacina species from the Moluccas and Papua. Supported by molecular and morphological evidence, the revision transfers 18 species to Papuathemis, a group characterized by slender metallic-green bodies, yellow thoracic markings, and distinctive male genitalia.

Keywords

LibellulidaePapuathemis
22 June 2026By Raja Rhamdany H.

Papuathemis phoebe, Indonesia, Halmahera.

Photo: Erland Refling Nielsen (iv.2017) · Odonatologica, 55(1-2) : 113-128

Getting to Know Papuathemis[/i]

Papuathemis is a large dragonfly genus? Not at all. This genus belongs to the family Libellulidae, the true dragonflies, and consists of relatively small to medium-sized species with slender bodies. Most species occur in the Moluccas and Papua, where they are typically found along forest streams and other wooded freshwater habitats.

In general, Papuathemis can be recognized by the following combination of characteristics:

  • small and slender body with relatively long legs;
  • frons often with a bright metallic green sheen;
  • thorax dark with a metallic green gloss and yellow markings;
  • front of thorax without a distinct yellow antehumeral stripe, but usually with a yellow mid-dorsal line and a humeral mark in many species;
  • sides of thorax usually with an extensive yellow pattern, often irregular;
  • abdomen dark, sometimes with a yellow dorsal line, but usually with a more distinct yellow marking on abdominal segment 7;
  • body without red or blue markings;
  • pterostigma dark brown to black;
  • triangles and supratriangles in both fore- and hindwings without crossveins;
  • male genital lobe small and weakly developed, while the anterior lamina is large and about as high as the hamulus;
  • abdomen including anal appendages about 18–24 mm long, with hindwing length 21–30 mm.

Species-level identification is not always straightforward. Important diagnostic characters are typically found in the coloration of the head and thorax, the shape of the male anal appendages, and the structure of the secondary genitalia.

Why Was Papuathemis Separated from Diplacina?

Phylogenetic reconstruction of the Maximum Likelihood analysis of the COI gene. The Ultrafast Bootstrap values are shown when above 70. The Papuan Diplacina species (here reassigned to Papuathemis) are shown in blue; the Philippine-Sulawesi Diplacina species are shown in red.

I. ten Katen, A.A. Kros, M. Pàmies-Harder & V.J. Kalkman · Odonatologica, 55(1-2) : 113-128

Species formerly assigned to Diplacina from the Moluccas and Papua have now been transferred to the new genus Papuathemis. This revision is supported by molecular and morphological evidence showing that the Moluccan–Papuan lineage is not closely related to Diplacina species from the Philippines and Sulawesi. As a result, 18 species from the Moluccas and Papua have been moved to Papuathemis, while three species from Sulawesi remain within Diplacina due to their closer evolutionary relationship with the Philippine lineage.

Why Do the Sulawesi Species Remain in Diplacina?

Diplacina bolivari, Philippines, Aurora province.

Photo: Vincent J. Kalkman (16.ii.2024) · Odonatologica, 55(1-2) : 113-128

Although Sulawesi is geographically closer to the Moluccas and Papua, the Diplacina species from Sulawesi were not transferred to Papuathemis. Molecular analyses show that the Sulawesi species form a clade with species from the Philippines rather than with the Moluccan–Papuan lineage. This distinction is important because the genus name Diplacina must remain associated with its type species, Diplacina nana Brauer, 1868, which originates from the Philippines. Consequently, the Philippine and Sulawesi species retain the name Diplacina, while the Moluccan and Papuan species are placed in Papuathemis. The Sulawesi species that remain within Diplacina are:

This group exhibits several characteristics that are more consistent with true Diplacina. Males generally possess red markings at the base of the abdomen, although this feature is less distinct in D. torrenticola. In addition, the genital lobe is well developed, while the anterior lamina is relatively small and lower than the hamulus. These characters differ markedly from those of Papuathemis, in which the genital lobe is small and weakly developed, whereas the anterior lamina is large and nearly as high as the hamulus.

Key Differences Between Diplacina and Papuathemis

CharacterDiplacinaPapuathemis
Main distributionPhilippines and SulawesiMoluccas and Papua
Body colorationOften with red markings, especially at the base of the male abdomenLacks red or blue markings
Male genital lobeLarge and well developedSmall and weakly developed
Male anterior laminaSmall, lower than the hamulusLarge, approximately as high as the hamulus
Wing triangle venationUsually with crossveins in the triangle or supratriangleTriangle and supratriangle without crossveins
Thoracic patternVariable, often with contrasting red or yellow markingsDark with a metallic green sheen and extensive yellow markings
Evolutionary relationshipPart of the Philippine–Sulawesi lineageDistinct Moluccan–Papuan lineage
Key Differences Between Diplacina and Papuathemis

Secondary genitalia of (a) Diplacina nana and (b) D. militaris showing the relatively small anterior lamina (lower than the hamule) and the well-developed genital lobe. al – anterior lamina; h – hamule; gl – genital lobe.

I. ten Katen, A.A. Kros, M. Pàmies-Harder & V.J. Kalkman · Odonatologica, 55(1-2) : 113-128

Secondary genitalia of (a) Papuathemis smaragdina and (b) P. phoebe showing the small and barely developed genital lobe and a large anterior lamina. al – anterior lamina; h – hamule; gl – genital lobe.

I. ten Katen, A.A. Kros, M. Pàmies-Harder & V.J. Kalkman · Odonatologica, 55(1-2) : 113-128

Species Transferred to Papuathemis

The following species were formerly placed in Diplacina but are now assigned to Papuathemis:

Of these species, Papuathemis phoebe is the only species known from the Moluccas, whereas the remaining species are primarily distributed throughout Papua and its surrounding islands.

Habitat of Papuathemis

Papuathemis species are typically found along rivers and forest streams. They appear to prefer relatively open, fast-flowing waters with rocky substrates. Males are often observed perching on rocks or low vegetation near the water's edge. The genus seems to be less common in small streams with dense canopy cover. Information on territorial behavior, mating, and oviposition remains scarce. Given the vast extent of Papua and the limited survey effort across many regions, additional undescribed species of Papuathemis may still await discovery.

Significance of the Revision

The separation of Papuathemis from Diplacina represents more than a simple name change. It demonstrates that the dragonflies of Papua and the Moluccas, previously considered part of the same group as species from the Philippines and Sulawesi, actually represent a distinct evolutionary lineage. For dragonfly enthusiasts, researchers, and biodiversity database managers, this revision is important to ensure that scientific names reflect the current understanding of classification. For the Indonesian fauna, it also clarifies that Sulawesi remains part of the distribution range of Diplacina, whereas the Moluccas and Papua represent the center of diversity for Papuathemis.

Ian ten Katen, Anna A. Kros, Maria Pàmies-Harder, and Vincent J. Kalkman "A redefinition of the genus Diplacina Brauer, 1868, with the establishment of Papuathemis gen. nov. (Odonata: Libellulidae)," Odonatologica 55(1-2), 113-127, (1 June 2026). https://doi.org/10.60024/odon.v55i1-2.a6

Read paper