Paragomphus serrulatus (Baumann, 1898)
Tiger Hooktail

Synonyms:

  • scientific: Onychogomphus serrulatus; P. bredoi (Schouteden, 1934); P. longiventris Fraser, 1955; P. xanthus Pinhey, 1966

Type locality: Togo, no locality data available.

Diagnosis

Male is similar to P. cognatus by (a) postdorsal stripes well-separated from collar; (b) S5-6 usually extensively pale marked; (c) apices of cerci thick, truncate, often coarsely toothed. However, differs by (1) ranging from NE DRC to W Africa, rather than in eastern and southern Africa; (2) complete pale metepisternal stripe interrupted only in very dark specimens, rather than typically interrupted at least above metastigma and often broken up into three spots; (3) apical segment of the penis bearing a small but prominent dorsal hook on each side; (4) narrower tips of the cerci, with one prominent and often spine-like posterior tooth and several often indistinct anterior ones, rather than several coarse similarly-sized teeth; and (5) clearly longer than wide epiproct in ventral view, rather than almost as wide as long. [Adapted from Dijkstra & Clausnitzer 2014 and Dijkstra, Kipping & Mézière 2015]

Habitat description

Streams in open areas in forest or shaded by gallery forest. Probably often with a gravelly, sandy and/or soft (like muddy) bottom. Inferred to occur from 0 to 800 m above sea level, but possibly up to 1300.

Distribution

confirmed: Benin; Côte d'Ivoire; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Gabon; Ghana; Liberia; Nigeria; Sierra Leone; Togo


© KD Dijkstra

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):


Female; Liberia, Nimba County, Mt Tokadeh © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Male; Liberia, Nimba County, West Nimba Proposed Forest Reserve © Dijkstra, K.-D.B. & M. Darpay

Reference

  • Fraser, F.C. (1955). New species and new additions to the Odonata of the Belgian Congo. Revue Zoologie Botanique Africaines, 51, 33-43. [PDF file]

Citation: Dijkstra, K.-D.B (editor). African Dragonflies and Damselflies Online. http://addo.adu.org.za/ [2024-11-06].