Paragomphus clausnitzerorum Dijkstra, Mézière & Papazian, 2015
Gabon Hooktail

Type locality: Franceville-Kessala Road, second stream E of Onkoua, Gabon

Diagnosis

Male recalls P. nigroviridis by (a) the largely black face including the occiput; (b) the largely black thorax with prominent green postdorsal, mesepimeral and metepimeral stripes, but reduced antehumeral and metepisternal stripes; (c) the postdorsal stripes fused to the collar, together appearing like an inverted seven; and (d) the apices of the cerci that diverge in dorsal view. However, (1) may be slightly larger, Hw 24.5-26.0 mm (n = 5) rather than 23.5-24.0 mm (n = 2); (2) the black labrum typically bears a pair of green spots, rather than having these fused into a single bar; (3) the antehumeral stripe is usually completely absent, rather than reduced to a spot that lies close to the dorsal end of the postdorsal stripe; (4) in lateral view the cerci are more markedly curved up in their basal half and down in their apical half, with a prominent angle between these halves dorsally; and (5) the tips of the cerci are more strongly curved and relatively thick and rounded, with four large and equal teeth, rather than curved more gradually, tapering to a slender and truncated tip with about seven smaller teeth, of which the most terminal stands apart and is often longer. [Adapted from Dijkstra, Kipping & Mézière 2015]

Habitat description

Streams shaded by forest. Often with rocks and a gravelly and/or sandy bottom. From 300 to 600 m above sea level.

Distribution

confirmed: Gabon

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; Gabon, Haut-Ogooué, Franceville-Kessala Road © Dijkstra, K.-D.B., Nicolas Mézière & Cédric Vanappelghem


Male; Gabon, Haut-Ogoué, route Moanda-Bakoumka (psite en forêt à droite à 25 km de Moanda) © Mézière, Nicolas


Male; Gabon, NGOUNIE, route Mouila-Mimongo © Mézière, Nicolas


Male; Gabon, NGOUNIE, route Mouila-Mimongo © Mézière, Nicolas


Male; Gabon, NGOUNIE, route Mouila-Mimongo © Mézière, Nicolas

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/ [2024-03-28].