Urothemis assignata (Selys, 1872)
Red Basker

Type locality: Madagascar, no locality data available.

Diagnosis

Male is similar to U. luciana by (a) Abd, thorax and frons red with maturity; (b) Pt 3.5 mm or more; (c) Hw base usually with dark brown marking that enters triangle; (e) hamule longer than genital lobe; (f) at least dorsum S8-9 with black markings. However, differs by (1) smaller size, Hw 30-36 mm; (2) usually 7 Ax in Fw; (3) basal markings extend at most to Ax2 in Hw, not or hardly developed in Fw. [Adapted from Dijkstra & Clausnitzer 2014]

Habitat description

Standing waters, but possibly also lakes, rivers and flowing channels in marshes, in open landscapes, open areas in forest or shaded by gallery forest. Usually with emergent vegetation and often coarse detritus and a soft (like muddy) bottom. From 0 to 1700 m above sea level, but mostly at lower elevations.

Distribution

confirmed: Angola; Benin; Botswana; Burkina Faso; Côte d'Ivoire; Cameroon; Congo-Brazzaville; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Ethiopia; Gabon; Gambia; Ghana; Guinee-Bissau; Kenya; Liberia; Malawi; Mali; Mozambique; Namibia; Niger; Nigeria; Republic of Guinea; Republic of South Africa; Rwanda; Senegal; Sierra Leone; Somalia; South Sudan; Tanzania; Togo; Uganda; Zambia; Zimbabwe; NOT confirmed: Swaziland


Male © Hans-Joachim Clausnitzer


Abdominal segment 2 (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; Democratic Republic of Congo, Province Orientale, © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


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


Male; Tanzania, Kigoma Region, Lower Malagarasi Basin © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.

References

  • de Sélys-Longchamps, E. (1872). Note sur plusieurs Odonates de Madagascar et des îles Mascareigenes. Revue Magasin Zoologie, 23, 1-8.
  • Ris, F. (1921). The Odonata or Dragonflies of South Africa. Annals South African Museum, XVIII, 245-452. [PDF file]
  • Balinsky, B.I. (1961). Observations on the dragonfly fauna of the coastal region of Zululand, with descriptions of three new species (Odonata). Journal Entomological Society Southern Africa, 24, 72-91. [PDF file]
  • Pinhey, E.C.G. (1961). Dragonflies (Odonata) of Central Africa. Occasional Papers Rhodes-Livingstone Museum, 14: 1-97. [PDF file]
  • Pinhey, E.C.G. (1966). Check-list of dragonflies (Odonata) from Malawi, with description of a new Teinobasis Kirby. Arnoldia, 2, 1-24. [PDF file]
  • Longfield, C. (1959). The Odonata of N. Angola. Part II. Publicacoes culturais Companhia Diamantes Angola, 45, 13-42. [PDF file]
  • Schouteden, H. (1934). Annales Musee Congo belge Zoologie 3 Section 2, 3, 1-84. [PDF file]
  • D' Andrea, M., and Carfi, S. (1997). Nuove raccolte di odonati del Camerun con note su Agriocnemis maclachlani Selys, 1877 edescrizione di Agriocnemis dissimilis sp. nov. e Trithemis osvaldae sp. nov. Atti Societa italiana Scienze naturali, 136, 157-190. [PDF file]

Citation: Dijkstra, K.-D.B (editor). African Dragonflies and Damselflies Online. http://addo.adu.org.za/ [2024-03-28].