Elattoneura vittata (Selys, 1886)
Western Red-banded Threadtail

Synonyms:

  • scientific: Prodasineura vittata; ? E. perisi (Compte Sart, 1964)
  • vernacular: Orange-fronted T.

Type locality: West Africa, no locality data available.

Diagnosis

Male is distinctive by combination of (1) eyes dark in life; (2) labrum black, rather than yellow with black central spot; (3) antehumeral stripe orange to red and about half as wide as mesepisternum and confined to its anterior 2/3; (4) anal vein terminates proximal to distal border of quadrilateral; (5) S10 all black, rather than having a bright spot. However, this combination may conceal a complex of similar central African species that differ in details of the orange markings, penis and appendages. [Adapted from Dijkstra & Clausnitzer 2014]

Habitat description

Seeps and springs, but possibly also headwater streams, shaded by forest. Usually with coarse detritus and often a soft (like muddy) bottom. From 0 to 800 m above sea level, but possibly up to 2500.

Distribution

confirmed: Cameroon; Central African Republic; Congo-Brazzaville; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Equatorial Guinea; Gabon; Nigeria


Male © Nicolas Meziere


Appendages (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; Gabon, Haut-Ogoué, Plateau Batéké - vallée de la Léconi © Mézière, Nicolas ; Julien, Renoult ; Joelle, Lekogo


Adult, male; Gabon, Haut-Ogoué, piste à droite avant africa n°1 (direction franceville) © Mézière, Nicolas

References

  • de Sélys-Longchamps, E. (1886). Révision du Synopsis des Agrionines. 1e partie (Légions Pseudostigma, Podagrion, Platycnemis et Protoneura). Memoires couronnes Academie royale Belgique, 38, 1-233.
  • Sjöstedt, Y. (1900). Odonaten aus Kamerun, West -Afrika.Beltrage Zur Kenntnis der insektenfauna von Kamerun.Binhang Kongliga Svenka VetenskapsAkademiens Handlingar, 25, 1-62.
  • Martin, R. (1907). Odonates de la Guinée espagnole. Memorias Sociedad espanola Historia natural, 1, 421-432. [PDF file]
  • Schouteden, H. (1934). Annales Musee Congo belge Zoologie 3 Section 2, 3, 1-84. [PDF file]
  • Schmidt, E. (1951). Libellen aus Portugiesisch Guinea, mit Bemerkungen über andere aethiopische Odonaten. Arquivos Museu Bocage, 20, 125-200. [PDF file]
  • D' Andrea, M., and Carfi, S. (1997). Nuove raccolte di odonati del Camerun con note su Agriocnemis maclachlani Selys, 1877 edescrizione di Agriocnemis dissimilis sp. nov. e Trithemis osvaldae sp. nov. Atti Societa italiana Scienze naturali, 136, 157-190. [PDF file]

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