Malgassophlebia andzaba Dijkstra & Mézière, 2015
Redwater Leaftipper

Type locality: Batéké Plateau, Eaux Claires, Gabon

Diagnosis

Male is nearest sympatric M. westfalli by (a) the dark brown to black rather than yellow pronotal hindlobe; (b) the triangular rather than quadrangular Fw discoidal cell, i.e. the sector of the arculus joins it at its distal corner rather than about halfway along the anterior vein; (c) at least partly two rows of cells in the Fw discoidal field proximal to the node, rather than entirely one row from base to beyond node; (d) 6-10 cells in the anal loop, rather than only 3-4; (e) the gradually curved rather than abruptly subapically bent hamule; and (f) the terminally expanded and truncated cerci in lateral view. However, has (1) slightly smaller size, Hw 25.0-26.0 mm (n = 3) rather than 27.0-29.0 mm (n = 5); (2) the black on the labium not expanded laterally of the central lobe; (3) a pale brown rather than black occipital triangle, base of vertex and base of frons; (4) 6-7 cells in the anal loop, not 9-10; (5) the apical border of the genital lobe pointed and smooth, instead of broadly rounded bearing 3-6 denticles; (6) the dorsal carina of S4-8 yellowish brown rather than black; (7) the abdomen barely expanded and widest on S7, with S8 longer than wide, instead of distinctly clubbed and widest on S8, which is wider than long; (8) the cerci lacking a small ventral process at mid-length, well-separated rather than closely apposed in middle, truncated rather than pointed in dorsal view, and bearing an internal spine at their apex; and (9) a narrower epiproct whose base is eclipsed by the cerci in dorsal view and whose apical cleft and tips are triangular rather than rounded. [Adapted from Dijkstra, Kipping & Mézière 2015]

Habitat description

Streams shaded by gallery forest. Often with blackwater and a sandy bottom, and probably overhanging branches, submerged roots and/or coarse detritus. From 300 to 500 m above sea level.

Distribution

confirmed: 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.


Barcode specimen(s):


Adult, male; Gabon, Haut-Ogoué, Plateau Batéké - vallée de la Léconi © Mézière, Nicolas, JENS KIPPING, HANNES KRAHNSTOEVER


Adult, male; Gabon, Haut-Ogoué, Plateau Batéké - vallée de la Léconi © Mézière, Nicolas, JENS KIPPING, HANNES KRAHNSTOEVER


Adult, female; Gabon, Haut-Ogoué, Plateau Batéké - vallée de la Léconi © Mézière, Nicolas, JENS KIPPING, HANNES KRAHNSTOEVER

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/ [2024-03-28].