DIVERSITY AND HABITAT PREFERENCE OF ODONATE IN CHAKRASHILA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, WESTERN ASSAM, INDIA

The study was conducted in Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary of western Assam to explore diversity and habitat preference of odonata (both dragonflies and damseldly) from April 2018 to March 2019. During study period we recorded total 57 species of odonate from 39 genera and 8 families out of which, dragonfly (Anisoptera) represented by 37 species and damselfly (Zygoptera) represented by 20 species. Suborder Zygoptera were represented by the families Chlorocyphidae, Coenagrionidae, Platycnemididae, Euphaeidae, Calopterygidae and suborder Anisoptera by the Aeshnidae, Gomphidae and Libellulidae. Libellulidae was the largest family with 29 species, while Chlorocyphidae and Euphaeidae represent only single species. Among the five habitats highest species were recorded from wetland (63%) and lowest from dense forest (41%) while 20 species were recognized as habitat specialist and 7 species were habitat generalist.