Elattoneura nigra Kimmins, 1938
Black Threadtail

Type locality: Ibadan, Nigeria

Diagnosis

Male is similar to E. glauca by (a) being rarely found in dense forest; (b) frons pruinose with maturity; (c) eyes largely blue in life, rather than dark; (d) ventral process of cerci with 2 teeth (may be close to each other, check caudal view). However, differs by (1) ranging from N Uganda to W Africa; (2) penis without lateral branches; (3) ventral process of cerci slender from base to tip, with 2 closely placed apical teeth (best seen in caudal view). [Adapted from Dijkstra & Clausnitzer 2014]

Habitat description

Rivers and streams shaded by gallery forest, but sometimes also in open areas in forest. Often with a sandy and/or soft (like muddy) bottom. From 0 to 1400 m above sea level, but mostly below 900.

Distribution

confirmed: Burkina Faso; Côte d'Ivoire; Cameroon; Central African Republic; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Gambia; Ghana; Guinee-Bissau; Liberia; Mali; Nigeria; Republic of Guinea; Sierra Leone; Togo; Uganda


© Ben Phalan


Appendages (lateral view)

Penis (lateral view)

Map citation: Clausnitzer, V., K.-D.B. Dijkstra, R. Koch, J.-P. Boudot, W.R.T. Darwall, J. Kipping, B. Samraoui, M.J. Samways, J.P. Simaika & F. Suhling, 2012. Focus on African Freshwaters: hotspots of dragonfly diversity and conservation concern. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 10: 129-134.


Barcode specimen(s):


Male; Liberia, Nimba County, Yekepa-Yuelliton Road © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.

References

  • Kimmins, D.E. (1938). New African species of Elattoneura. (Odonata). Annals Magazine Natural History Series, 11 1, 294-302. [PDF file]
  • Pinhey, E.C.G. (1971). Odonata collected in Republique Centre-Africaine by R. Pujol. Arnoldia, 5, 1-16. [PDF file]
  • Schmidt, E. (1951). Libellen aus Portugiesisch Guinea, mit Bemerkungen über andere aethiopische Odonaten. Arquivos Museu Bocage, 20, 125-200. [PDF file]

Citation: Dijkstra, K.-D.B (editor). African Dragonflies and Damselflies Online. http://addo.adu.org.za/ [2024-10-13].