Elattoneura glauca (Selys, 1860)
Common Threadtail

Type locality: Cape Province, South Africa

Diagnosis

Male is similar to E. nigra by (a) being rarely found in dense forest; (b) frons pruinose with maturity; (c) eyes largely blue in life, rather than dark; (d) ventral process of cerci with 2 teeth (may be close to each other, check caudal view). However, differs by (1) ranging from Uganda and Kenya to Angola and South Africa; (2) penis with slender filament-like lateral branches; (3) ventral process of cerci triangular, wide at base, with conspicuous subapical tooth next to single apical tooth. [Adapted from Dijkstra & Clausnitzer 2014]

Habitat description

Mostly streams, but also rivers, shaded by gallery forest, but sometimes in open landscapes. Often with emergent vegetation and a gravelly, sandy and/or soft (like muddy) bottom. From 0 to 2400 m above sea level, but mostly below 1800.

Distribution

confirmed: Angola; Botswana; Congo-Brazzaville; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Equatorial Guinea; Kenya; Lesotho; Malawi; Mozambique; Namibia; Republic of South Africa; Swaziland; Tanzania; Uganda; Zambia; Zimbabwe; NOT confirmed: Ethiopia; Somalia


Male © Jens Kipping


Appendages (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, female; Zimbabwe, Manicaland, Vumba Mts © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Adult, male; Zimbabwe, Manicaland, below Vumba Mts, Essex Valley © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


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


Adult, male; Angola, Uige Province, © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


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


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


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


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


Male; Tanzania, Tanga Region, East Usambara Mts © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Female; Tanzania, Tanga Region, East Usambara Mts © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Male; Tanzania, Tanga Region, East Usambara Mts © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Male; Tanzania, Tanga Region, East Usambara Mts © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Adult, male; Zimbabwe, Manicaland, Chimanimani National Park © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Adult, male; Zimbabwe, Manicaland, Chimanimani National Park © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.

References

  • de Sélys-Longchamps, E. (1860). Synopsis des Agrionines. Derniere légion: Protoneura. Bulletin Academie royale Belgique Serie, 2 10, 431-462.
  • 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]
  • Fraser, F.C. (1955). Odonata collected by J. Hamon in French West Africa. Revue francaise Entomologie, 22, 237-243. [PDF file]

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