Ceriagrion obfuscans Dijkstra, Mézière & Kipping, 2015
Darkening Citril

Type locality: Lower Lomami, Iloko stream on Lieki-Lileke path, DRC

Diagnosis

Male belongs to the varians-group by (a) the blackish rhomboidal Pt with the anterior border shorter than the posterior; (b) the cerci that are wider than long and (almost) touch each other in dorsal view; and (c) the paraprocts without a heeled lower border in lateral view. However, unlike other group species, (1) the orange to red head, thorax and S1-2 blacken with age; (2) the humeral and metapleural sutures lack dark dots in the fossae, although this character is obscured with the darkening of the body; (3) the penis has a notably long, broad and squarish apex and lacks small horn-like cones on each side of its base; (4) S3-10 are always blackish, while at least S8-10 always remain red in other species; (5) the cerci are round rather than pointed in lateral view; and (6) the paraprocts are just over twice as long as the cerci, rather than under. [Adapted from Dijkstra, Kipping & Mézière 2015]

Habitat description

Standing and mostly temporary waters shaded by forest. Usually with coarse detritus and probably blackwater, emergent vegetation and/or submerged roots. From 300 to 600 m above sea level.

Distribution

Appendages (dorsal view)	Appendages (lateral view)
Penis (lateral view)	Penis (ventral 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):

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/ [2024-10-05].