Scientists have discovered three ancient dragon fly sub-species indigenous to China in the Shennongjia Nature Reserve, one of the researchers announced Wednesday.
"The three sub-species are found nowhere else in the world," Xinhua quoted Zhang Haomiao from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences as saying.
Zhang said the sub-species can be used to monitor water quality as they live only in the relatively pristine streams of Shennongjia and cannot tolerate polluted water.
The dragon flies do not like sunshine and only become active after dusk, the researcher said. The scientists' findings have been published in the International Journal of Odontology.