The most special sighting in our reservation so far!

The most special sighting in our reservation so far!

In recent years we have already seen many rare and unusual animals in our reserve such as the Northern Nacked-tailed Armadillo, Black-and-White Hawk-Eagle and several felines. However, what we recently encountered is many times more interesting to scientists.

In 1989, Epigomphus houghtoni, the Limon Knobtail, a dragonfly species was described by Stephen Brooks based on one male specimen caught in Siquirres, near our reserve in Costa Rica. The species was never observed again after that. Knobtails are difficult to inventory because they hide in dark wooded forest streams. Student Valentine found a male and female along a small stream at the Adopt Rainforest reserve. When we studied and identified the animals carefully, alarm bells started ringing.

After contacting two American professors who specialize in dragonflies and damselflies of Costa Rica, the only known specimen, included in the collection of the British Museum in London, turned out to be lost.

Thanks to Valentines keen eyes, we now have the only known specimens in the world in our reserve! Never before has anyone seen a female Limon Knobtail. Soon we will be visited by a specialist, who can describe the female and take good pictures of both specimens.

What a wonderful find! How long will it be until we find a totally new species?

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