About Lepidocampa sikkimensis:
- It is a new species of Diplura discovered in Ravangla, Sikkim.
- Diplura are small, wingless, soil-dwelling arthropods.
- It represents the first time a species within this primitive hexapod group has been described by an Indian research team.
- Morphological Distinctiveness: The species is distinguished by its unique arrangement of body scales, specific chaetotaxy (bristle patterns), and specialized appendage structures.
- Ecological Role: As primitive, blind hexapods, Diplurans (two-pronged bristletails) are fundamental to soil health, playing a critical role in nutrient cycling and the maintenance of soil structure.
- Beyond the description of a new species, the study provides a comprehensive update to Indian soil fauna records:
- Rediscovery: The team successfully relocated a rare Indian Diplura subspecies, Lepidocampa juradii bengalensis, which had not been recorded in nearly 50 years.
- Molecular Breakthrough: The study provides the first-ever DNA barcode data globally for an Indian Lepidocampa species, bridging a significant gap between traditional morphology and modern molecular phylogenetics.
