Orthetrum austeni (Kirby, 1900)
Giant Skimmer

Type locality: Sierra Leone, no locality data available.

Diagnosis

Male is similar to O. angustiventre by (a) great size, Hw 34-50 mm; (b) Fw triangle 3-4 cells, subtriangle of 5-10 cells; (c) Fw discoidal field of 4-5 cell-rows at base; (d) Pt 5 mm or more. However, differs by (1) favouring ponds and lakes near forest; (2) 19-23 Ax in Fw; (3) membranule dark rather than pale; (4) subcostal Ax dark rather than pale; (5) 2 rows in radial planate, rarely 3; (6) Abd about 4 mm wide. [Adapted from Dijkstra & Clausnitzer 2014]

Habitat description

Standing and often temporary waters, mostly in open areas in forest. Often with coarse detritus, a soft (like muddy) bottom, and probably emergent vegetation. From 0 to 1700 m above sea level, but mostly below 800.

Distribution

confirmed: Angola; Benin; Côte d'Ivoire; Cameroon; Central African Republic; Congo-Brazzaville; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Equatorial Guinea; Gabon; Ghana; Liberia; Nigeria; Republic of Guinea; Sierra Leone; Tanzania; Togo; Uganda; Zambia


Male © Damian Pinguey


Abdominal segment 2 (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):


Male; Liberia, Nimba County, Yekepa-Gbeleyee Road © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


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


Male; Democratic Republic of Congo, Province Orientale,


Male; Democratic Republic of Congo, Province Orientale, East of Isangi © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Male; Liberia, Nimba County, East Nimba Nature Reserve © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.

References

  • Kirby, W.F. (1900). Report on the Neuroptera Odonata collected by Mr E. E. Austen at Sierra Leone during August and September 1899. Annals Magazine Natural History, 6, 67-79. [PDF file]
  • Longfield, C. (1936). Studies on African Odonata, with synonymy and descriptions of new species and subspecies. Transactions Royal Entomological Society London, 85, 467-498. [PDF file]
  • Sjöstedt, Y. (1917). Odonaten aus Abessinien, Ost- und Westafrika. Arkiv Zoologi, 11, 1-27.
  • Pinhey, E.C.G. (1971). Odonata of Fernando Po Island and of neighbouring Cameroons Territory. Journal Entomological Society Southern Africa, 34, 215-229. [PDF file]
  • Pinhey, E.C.G. (1962). Some records of Odonata collected in tropical Africa. Journal Entomological Society Southern Africa, 25, 20-50. [PDF file]
  • Schouteden, H. (1934). Annales Musee Congo belge Zoologie 3 Section 2, 3, 1-84. [PDF file]
  • Pinhey, E.C.G. (1971). Odonata collected in Republique Centre-Africaine by R. Pujol. Arnoldia, 5, 1-16. [PDF file]
  • Longfield, C. (1955). The Odonata of N. Angola. Part I. Publicacoes culturais Companhia Diamantes Angola, 27, 11-63. [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]
  • Aguesse, P. (1966). Contribution à la faune de Congo (Brazzaville) Mission A. Villiers et A. Descarpentries XXI. Odonates. Bulletin de l'Institut fondamental d'Afrique, 28, 783-797. [PDF file]

Citation: Dijkstra, K.-D.B (editor). African Dragonflies and Damselflies Online. http://addo.adu.org.za/ [2024-03-29].