Paragomphus darwalli Dijkstra, Mézière & Papazian, 2015
Darwall's Hooktail

Type locality: Bongoville, Gabon

Diagnosis

Male recalls P. tournieri by (a) the largely black face and occiput; (b) the largely black thorax with prominent green postdorsal, mesepimeral and metepimeral stripes, but almost entirely reduced antehumeral and metepisternal stripes; (c) the postdorsal stripes that are clearly separated from the collar; (d) the cerci that in dorsal view are parallel to each other to their end; and (e) the cerci that in lateral view are strongly and evenly curved, like a walking cane, and terminate in blunt tips. However, (1) notably small, Hw 21.5-22.0 mm (n = 4) rather than 23.5-24.0 mm (n = 2); (2) the labrum is uniformly brown, becoming even a fraction paler towards the border, rather than black and darkest on the border enclosing a green bar; (3) the antehumeral stripe is absent, rather than reduced to a spot that lies close to the dorsal end of the postdorsal stripe; (4) the curved section of the cerci is longer and more slender; and (5) the tips of cerci may bear a small subapical spine, although possibly this breaks off easily in either species. [Adapted from Dijkstra, Kipping & Mézière 2015]

Habitat description

Recorded from streams shaded by (gallery) forest. Usually with a sandy bottom. From 300 to 800 m above sea level.

Distribution

confirmed: Angola; 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.


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].