Elattoneura acuta Kimmins, 1938
Red Threadtail

Synonyms:

  • scientific: E. henrardi Fraser, 1954
  • vernacular: Eastern Red T.

Type locality: Lagos, Nigeria

Diagnosis

Male is similar to E. vrijdaghi and E. tsiamae by (a) head, thorax and sometimes Abd tip with reddish markings with maturity; (b) eyes red in life; (c) anal vein terminates level to distal border of quadrilateral. However, differs by (1) antehumeral stripes less than half as wide as mesepisternum, dark area between them interrupted by pair of red lines flanking middorsal carina; (2) legs entirely bright red, rather than dull yellowish to reddish; (3) ventral process of cerci square, anterior border almost perpendicular to posterior border. [Adapted from Dijkstra & Clausnitzer 2014]

Habitat description

Streams shaded by forest. Often with a sandy and/or soft (like muddy) bottom, and usually submerged roots and/or probably coarse detritus. From 0 to 800 m above sea level.

Distribution

confirmed: Angola; Cameroon; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Gabon; Nigeria; NOT confirmed: Central African Republic


Male © Jens Kipping


Appendages (lateral view)

Thorax (lateral view)

Penis (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, Loge valley © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Adult, female; Angola, Uige Province, Loge valley © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.

References

  • Kimmins, D.E. (1938). New African species of Elattoneura (Odonata). Journal of Natural History, 1, 294-302. [PDF file]
  • Legrand, J. (1980). Revue francaise Entomologie Nouvelle, 2, 153-161. [PDF file]
  • Fraser, F.C. (1954). New and rare species of Zygoptera from the Belgian Congo. Revue Zoologie Botanique Africaines, 50, 269-276. [PDF file]
  • Pinhey, E.C.G. (1961). Dragonflies (Odonata) of Central Africa. Occasional Papers Rhodes-Livingstone Museum, 1-97. [PDF file]

Citation: Dijkstra, K.-D.B (editor). African Dragonflies and Damselflies Online. http://addo.adu.org.za/ [2024-03-19].