Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Aug 2, 2026

Sinhalestes

Sinhalestes orientalis, the emerald Sri Lanka spreadwing, is a species of damselfly in the family Lestidae. It is the only species in the genus Sinhalestes. The species was thought to be extinct since none have been found since it was first scientifically described in 1862. However, in 2012 this species was re-discovered by a young odonatologist Amila Sumanapala from the Peak Wilderness Sanctuary, Sri Lanka.

Last revised
Aug 2, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
206 w
Citations
1
Source
Sinhalestes
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Clade: Pancrustacea
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Suborder: Zygoptera
Family: Lestidae
Genus: Sinhalestes
Fraser, 1951
Species:
S. orientalis
Binomial name
Sinhalestes orientalis
(Hagen, 1862)

Sinhalestes orientalis, the emerald Sri Lanka spreadwing, is a species of damselfly in the family Lestidae. It is the only species in the genus Sinhalestes. The species was thought to be extinct since none have been found since it was first scientifically described in 1862. However, in 2012 this species was re-discovered by a young odonatologist Amila Sumanapala from the Peak Wilderness Sanctuary, Sri Lanka.

It is endemic to Sri Lanka and so far it has only been recorded from Peak Wilderness Sanctuary and its surrounding areas.

References

References

  1. Bedjanič, M., Dow, R.A. & Sumanapala, A.P. (2021). "Sinhalestes orientalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021 e.T59773A170687673. Retrieved 16 November 2021.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
Sources

Sources