A team of researchers has discovered a new species of butterfly in Mayodia Pass, Arunachal Pradesh. The species, named Chonala albistricta or the Narrow-banded Wall, was identified from three specimens collected at an elevation of about 2,600 meters in August 2025. The discovery was published in the international journal Zootaxa.
The butterfly is distinct from its closest known relative, Chonala masoni, a species found in Sikkim and parts of Tibet, differing in wing patterns, body characteristics, and male genital structures. The study was led by Krushnamegh Kunte of the National Centre for Biological Sciences, along with Fahim Khan and Ujwala Pawar.
The discovery highlights the Northeast’s growing importance as a hotspot for biological discoveries. The butterfly belongs to the genus Chonala, a little-known group of mountain butterflies. Although the genus was first described more than 130 years ago, scientists note that seven of its ten known species have been discovered only in the last three decades, suggesting that remote mountain ranges across the eastern Himalayas may still harbor undiscovered species.
The newly described butterfly appears to have a very restricted range, so far recorded only from Mayodia Pass, though researchers believe it may also occur in nearby parts of Dibang Valley, Siang Valley, and adjoining areas. The species inhabits open rocky slopes within subtropical evergreen forests and is commonly seen basking on rocks and along mountain roads during its brief flight season between July and August.
The discovery underscores how much remains unknown about the biodiversity of Northeast India. The researchers found no historical records of the species in major natural history collections, indicating that it had escaped scientific attention despite decades of butterfly research in the region.
The finding adds to a growing list of new species being reported from Arunachal Pradesh, reinforcing the state’s reputation as one of India’s most important frontiers for biodiversity exploration.
