Neodythemis afra (Ris, 1909)
Seepage Junglewatcher

Synonyms:

  • scientific: Micromacromia afra; N. africana Fraser, 1954; N. gorillae Pinhey, 1961

Type locality: Old Calabar, Nigeria

Diagnosis

Male is similar to N. nyungwe and N. munyaga by (a) ranging from W Uganda to W Africa; (b) labrum black; (c) not pruinose; (d) black markings along metapleural suture continuous; (e) Fw discoidal field widens distally, 2-3 rows proximal to node, 4-11 cells wide on wing border. However, differs by (1) interpleural stripe ends just dorsal of metastigma; (2) black tip of genital lobe separated from black dorsum S2 by broad pale area; (3) latero-basal pale streak on S3 aligned with subapical spot (the two separated by transverse carina); (4) ventral pale spots on S6-8 only present narrowly along ventral carinae. [Adapted from Dijkstra & Clausnitzer 2014; this diagnosis not yet verified by author]

Habitat description

Mostly seeps and springs, but also headwater streams, shaded by forest. Usually with coarse detritus, often a soft (like muddy) bottom and probably emergent vegetation. From 0 to 1400 m above sea level, but mostly below 800.

Distribution

confirmed: Angola; Cameroon; Central African Republic; Congo-Brazzaville; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Gabon; Nigeria; Uganda


Male © Nicolas Meziere


Abdominal segment 2 (lateral view)

Thorax (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):


Adult, male; Angola, Uige Province, new campus site and environs © Clausnitzer, V. & Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Male; Gabon, Haut-Ogooué, Bakoumba-Parc de la Lékédi © Dijkstra, K.-D.B., Nicolas Mézière & Cédric Vanappelghem

References

  • Ris, F. (1909). Libellulinen 1. Fasc. in Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique, 9, 1-120.
  • Pinhey, E.C.G. (1961). Dragonflies collected on an expedition from Rhodesia to Nigeria in 1958. Part 1. Entomologists Monthly Magazine, 96, 256-271. [PDF file]
  • Pinhey, E.C.G. (1962). Some records of Odonata collected in tropical Africa. Journal Entomological Society Southern Africa, 25, 20-50. [PDF file]
  • Fraser, F.C. (1954). Further notes and descriptions of new species of Libellulidae from tropical Africa. Revue Zoologie Botanique Africaines, 50, 252-268. [PDF file]
  • Dijkstra, K.-D.B., and Vick, G.S. (2006). Inflation by venation and the bankruptcy of traditional genera: the case of Neodythemis and Micromacromia, with keys to the continental African species and the description of two new Neodythemis species from the Albertine Rift (Odonata: Libellulidae). International Journal Odonatology, 9, 51-70. [PDF file]
  • Pinhey, E.C.G. (1971). Odonata collected in Republique Centre-Africaine by R. Pujol. Arnoldia, 5, 1-16. [PDF file]

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