Beijing, July 19 : Scientists have discovered three dragonfly species, indigenous to China, inhabiting the Shennongjia nature reserve, a researcher said Friday.

"The three new Cephalaeschna species are found nowhere else in the world but central China," Zhang Haomiao, an aquatic animal researcher from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was quoted as saying by Xinhua.

He said the species can be "used" to monitor water quality, as they live only in the relatively pristine streams and cannot tolerate polluted water.

The dragonflies also do not like sunshine and only become active after dusk, he said.

The scientists' findings have been published in the International Journal of Odontology.

The Shennongjia nature reserve in a Unesco world heritage site in Hubei province. According to official statistics, there are approximately 1,131 species of plants, 54 kinds of animals, 190 species of birds, and several types of reptiles and amphibians.(IANS)