Paragomphus lemperti Dijkstra & Papazian, 2015
Lempert's Hooktail

Type locality: West Nimba Proposed Forest Reserve, Bentor, Liberia

Diagnosis

Male is nearest to P. elpidius by (a) the moderate size, Hw 23.0-24.0 mm (n = 4); (b) the green frons, clypeus and labrum with only indistinct brown smudges; (c) the largely green thorax with quite reduced but distinct brown stripes that delimit green postdorsal and antehumeral stripes; (d) the brown Pt that contrast weakly with their black veins; (e) the cerci that in dorsal view are parallel to each other to their end; (f) the cerci that in lateral view are strongly and evenly curved, like a walking cane, and terminate in thick blunt tips but lack the prominent ventral tooth of P. lacustris; and (g) the epiproct that is only about a third as long as the cerci. Differs by (1) the thoracic stripes being straight and continuous, e.g. the green antehumeral and metepisternal stripes and brown interpleural stripes extend uninterrupted between the leg and wing bases, whereas in P. elpidius they are often dead-ended or broken; (2) the foliations on S8-9 are reduced, at most one quarter as deep as the segment is high, rather than over half; and (3) the curved section of the cerci is longer and more slender. [Adapted from Dijkstra, Kipping & Mézière 2015]

Habitat description

Mostly streams, but also rivers, in open areas in forest. Often with a sandy bottom. Recorded at around 100 and 400 m above sea level.

Distribution

confirmed: Liberia; Sierra Leone


Male © KD Dijkstra

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; Sierra Leone, Eastern Province, Gola Forest © Dijkstra, K.-D.B. & A. Dayeker


Male; Sierra Leone, Eastern Province, Gola Forest © Dijkstra, K.-D.B. & A. Dayeker


Female; Sierra Leone, Eastern Province, Gola Forest © Dijkstra, K.-D.B. & A. Dayeker


Male; Liberia, Nimba County, West Nimba Proposed Forest Reserve © Dijkstra, K.-D.B. & M. Darpay


Male; Liberia, Nimba County, West Nimba Proposed Forest Reserve © Dijkstra, K.-D.B. & M. Darpay


Female; Liberia, Nimba County, West Nimba Proposed Forest Reserve © Dijkstra, K.-D.B. & M. Darpay

Reference

  • Dijkstra, K.-D.B., Mézière, N., and Kipping, J. (2015). Sixty new dragonfly and damselfly species from Africa (Odonata). Odonatologica, 44, 447-678.

Citation: Dijkstra, K.-D.B (editor). African Dragonflies and Damselflies Online. http://addo.adu.org.za/ [2024-03-29].