Paragomphus dispar Dijkstra, Mézière & Papazian, 2015
Amazing Hooktail

Type locality: Moyabi, Gabon

Diagnosis

Male is nearest to the poorly known P. maynei by its (a) great size, Hw 27.0-33.0 mm (n = 7); (b) largely black face and occiput; (c) entirely green S2 that contrasts with the mostly dark abdomen; (d) abrupt dorsal hump on S10; (e) slender and tapering cerci that terminate in a saw-like ridge of about six equal teeth; and (f) epiproct that is almost half as long as the cerci. However, (1) the black labrum is darkest on the border, enclosing a greenish bar, rather than being quite uniformly brown and even a fraction paler on the border; (2) the mesepisterna are entirely yellow-green except for a thick black border along the humeral suture and a thin black line on the posterior half of the middorsal carina, rather than all dark with only small isolated postdorsal stripes; (3) the sides of the thorax are black with complete broad greenish stripes on the mesepimeron and metepimeron, rather than wholly dark; (4) S3-10 are black with only a pair of green spots on the basal fifth of S3 and brown sides to S8-10, rather than largely pale on the sides of S3 and S7, and extensively rusty on S8-10; and (5) the cerci are more smoothly curved. The large size, dark face and bright thoracic front recall P. aureatus, but that has a pale metepisternal stripe that is of similar length and width as the mesepimeral and metepimeral stripes, pale markings on S4-5 and S7, a flat-topped S10, rather straight and thick cerci with abruptly down-curved tips, and an epiproct that is well over half as long as the cerci. [Adapted from Dijkstra, Kipping & Mézière 2015]

Habitat description

Streams shaded by forest. Often with a gravelly and/or sandy bottom and probably blackwater. From 300 to 500 m above sea level.

Distribution

confirmed: Gabon


Male © Nicolas Meziere

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):


Female; Gabon, Haut-Ogoué, piste à droite avant africa n°1 (direction franceville) © 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/ [2024-10-06].