Research Article |
Corresponding author: Jens Kipping ( biocartkipping@web.de ) Academic editor: Pavel Stoev
© 2017 Jens Kipping, Viola Clausnitzer, Sara R. F. Fernandes Elizalde, Klaas-Douwe B. Dijkstra.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Kipping J, Clausnitzer V, Elizalde SRF, Dijkstra K-DB (2017) The dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata) of Angola. African Invertebrates 58(1): 65-91. https://doi.org/10.3897/AfrInvertebr.58.11382
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Prior to 2012, only 158 species of Odonata were known from Angola. Surveys in 2012 and 2013 added 76 species and two further additions in 2016 brought the national total to 236 species. We provide a revised checklist with taxonomic notes and discuss the history of research, the biogeography of the fauna, and the potential for further discoveries. The national total is likely to be above 300 species. This would make Angola one of the richest countries for Odonata in Africa. The endemic species formerly classified in Chlorocypha are transferred to Platycypha.
Até 2012, apenas eram conhecidas 158 espécies de Odonata em Angola. Levantamentos feitos em 2012 e 2013 acrescentaram 76 espécies que, em conjunto com dois novos registos de 2016, elevaram a lista nacional a 236 espécies. Apresentamos uma lista de referência revista, com notas taxonómicas e discussão histórica da investigação, a biogeografia da fauna e o potencial de novas descobertas. É provável que o número total de espécies no país seja superior a 300. Se assim for, Angola será um dos países africanos com maior riqueza em Odonata. As espécies endémicas anteriormente classificadas como Chlorocypha foram transferidas para Platycypha.
Africa, biogeography, checklist, diversity, conservation
África, biogeografia, checklist, diversidade, conservação
Covering nearly 1,250,000 km², Angola is the largest African country not dominated by the Sahara after the Democratic Republic of Congo. It has an accordingly high diversity of habitats, ranging from Namib Desert in the southwest through grassland, woodlands and montane forest to Congolian lowland rainforest in the northeast. Moreover, a great highland of up to 2,620 m asl (above sea level) is contained completely within Angola’s borders, leading to substantial endemism. Therefore, the country is likely to be one of the richest in species in Africa. However, Angola’s biodiversity is very poorly known, with comparatively limited research before independence in 1975 halting altogether in the three decades of unrest that followed. Research coverage is also limited for Odonata (Fig.
Research began in July 1928, when the Swiss zoologist Albert Monard embarked on the first of his two expeditions to Angola, which lasted until February 1929. Monard was a curator at the Natural Museum of La-Chaux-de-Fonds in Switzerland with a broad interest in nature who mainly collected vertebrates and plants.
With the death of Friedrich Ris, Monard submitted the Odonata from his second expedition (April 1932 to October 1933) to Cynthia Longfield at the British Museum (now the Natural History Museum) in London, who had published several records obtained by Karl Jordan from Mt Moco in 1934 (
Elliot Pinhey was curator at the National Museum of Zimbabwe from 1955 until 1975 and while he collected intensively in adjacent countries, only visited Angola twice (
Pinhey further treated the material of three collectors, describing a species in honour of each of them. Edward S. Ross of the California Academy of Sciences collected between Cuchi and Dondo in 1957 and 1958 (
After Angola’s independence in 1975 there was a long break in field research, with only a few records by various collectors. In January 2009, an expedition led by Brian Huntley visited the Serra da Chela in south-western Angola and the Namib Desert to the south: Warwick Tarboton recorded 47 species of Odonata around Humpata, of which five were recorded in Angola for the first time and one was new to science (
Jens Kipping surveyed the upper catchment of the Okavango (Cubango) River on the SAREP (Southern African Regional Environmental Program) Expedition from 5 to 22 May 2012 (18 field days). Specimens collected during a second SAREP expedition in April 2013 were also handed to Jens Kipping. Viola Clausnitzer and KD Dijkstra in collaboration with the Universidade Kimpa Vita (Uíge) and the Technical University of Dresden (Germany) surveyed around Uíge, Negage and N’dalantando in northern Angola in the wet season from 13 November to 1 December 2012 (19 days). Dijkstra revisited this area in the dry season, from 26 September to 5 October 2013 (10 days). Sara Fernandes Elizalde and Chris Hines provided photographic records in 2016. Adult dragonflies were usually caught with an aerial net and either identified in the field using
The authors also examined the Angolan collections and type material in the Natural History Museum in London, the National History Museum of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo (
Specimens are currently at the Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden, The Netherlands, including type material of eight species described by
The All Odonata Barcode Initiative at Naturalis Biodiversity Center generated sequences of the mitochondrial COI gene of the 4,260 specimens from sub-Saharan Africa, of which about 400 were from Angola. See
The first SAREP Expedition yielded 87 species, 17 of them new to the country list and two new to science (
With the surveys in 2012 and 2013 and a careful review of the historic data, the known odonate fauna of Angola has increased from 158 species in the year 2011 to 234 species in 2013: an increase of about one-third with only 47 days in the field. Two species were added in 2016: Chris Hines photographed Tetrathemis camerunensis in Bengo Province and some male specimens of Bradinoypga strachani from N’dalantando were found in the collection of the Instituto de Investigação Agronómica in Huambo. ODA now holds 2,820 Angolan records from more than 250 localities.
The checklist of the Odonata of Angola is provided in Table
Species | English Name | V | RL |
---|---|---|---|
Lestidae | |||
Lestes amicus Martin, 1910 | Yellow-winged Spreadwing | 1 | LC |
Lestes dissimulans Fraser, 1955 | Cryptic Spreadwing | 1 | LC |
Lestes pallidus Rambur, 1842 | Pallid Spreadwing | 1 | LC |
Lestes pinheyi Fraser, 1955 | Pinhey’s Spreadwing | 1 | LC |
Lestes plagiatus (Burmeister, 1839) | Highland Spreadwing | 1 | LC |
Lestes tridens McLachlan, 1895 | Spotted Spreadwing | 1 | LC |
Lestes virgatus (Burmeister, 1839) | Smoky Spreadwing | 3 | LC |
Calopterygidae | |||
Phaon camerunensis Sjöstedt, 1900 | Emerald Demoiselle | 1! | LC |
Phaon iridipennis (Burmeister, 1839) | Glistening Demoiselle | 1 | LC |
Sapho orichalcea McLachlan, 1869 # | Mountain Bluewing | 1! | LC |
Umma electa Longfield, 1933 | Metallic Sparklewing | 1 | LC |
Umma femina Longfield, 1947 | Angola Sparklewing | 1** | VU |
Umma longistigma (Selys, 1869) | Bare-bellied Sparklewing | 1 | LC |
Umma mesostigma (Selys, 1879) | Hairy-bellied Sparklewing | 1! | LC |
Chlorocyphidae | |||
Chlorocypha cancellata (Selys, 1879) | Exquisite Jewel | 1! | LC |
Chlorocypha curta (Hagen in Selys, 1853) | Blue-tipped Jewel | 1! | LC |
Chlorocypha cyanifrons (Selys, 1873) | Blue-fronted Jewel | 1! | LC |
Chlorocypha fabamacula Pinhey, 1961 | Spotted Jewel | 1 | LC |
Chlorocypha victoriae (Förster, 1914) | Victoria’s Jewel | 1 | LC |
Platycypha angolensis Longfield, 1959 | Angola Dancing Jewel | 1** | NT |
Platycypha bamptoni (Pinhey, 1975) # | Highland Blue Jewel | 1** | NE |
Platycypha cf. bamptoni (Pinhey, 1975) # | (near Highland Blue Jewel) | 1!** | NE |
Platycypha caligata (Selys, 1853) # | Common Dancing Jewel | 2 | LC |
Platycypha crocea (Longfield, 1947) # | Angola Blue Jewel | 1** | LC |
Platycypha rubriventris (Pinhey, 1975) # | Red-bellied Blue Jewel | 2** | DD |
Platycypha rufitibia (Pinhey, 1961) | Beautiful Jewel | 1 | LC |
Platycnemididae | |||
Allocnemis nigripes (Selys, 1886) | Rainbow Yellowwing | 1 | LC |
Allocnemis pauli (Longfield, 1936) | Orange-tipped Yellowwing | 1! | LC |
Copera congolensis (Martin, 1908) | Congo Featherleg | 1! | LC |
Elattoneura acuta Kimmins, 1938 | Red Threadtail | 1! | LC |
Elattoneura cellularis (Grünberg, 1902) # | Zambezi Threadtail | 3 | LC |
Elattoneura cf. glauca (Selys, 1860) # | (near Common Threadtail) | 1 | LC |
Elattoneura lliba Legrand, 1985 | Eastern Stream Threadtail | 1! | LC |
Elattoneura tarbotonorum Dijkstra, 2015 # | Stout Threadtail | 2** | DD |
Mesocnemis cf. singularis Karsch, 1891 # | (near Common Riverjack) | 1! | NE |
Coenagrionidae | |||
Aciagrion africanum Martin, 1908 | Blue Slim | 1 | LC |
Aciagrion macrootithenae Pinhey, 1972 | Awl-tipped Slim | 3 | DD |
Aciagrion nodosum (Pinhey, 1964) | Cryptic Slim | 1! | LC |
Aciagrion rarum (Longfield, 1947) | Tiny Slim | 2 | DD |
Aciagrion steeleae Kimmins, 1955 | Swamp Slim | 3 | LC |
Aciagrion zambiense Pinhey, 1972 | Zambia Slim | 3 | DD |
Africallagma fractum (Ris, 1921) | Southern Slender Bluet | 1 | LC |
Africallagma glaucum (Burmeister, 1839) | Swamp Bluet | 1 | LC |
Africallagma vaginale (Sjöstedt, 1917) | Forest Bluet | 1! | LC |
Agriocnemis angolensis Longfield, 1947 | Blue Wisp | 1* | LC |
Agriocnemis bumhilli Kipping, Suhling & Martens, 2012 | Bumhill Wisp | 1!* | LC |
Agriocnemis canuango Dijkstra, 2015 | Bog Wisp | 1!** | DD |
Agriocnemis exilis Selys, 1872 | Little Wisp | 1 | LC |
Agriocnemis forcipata Le Roi, 1915 | Greater Pincer-tailed Wisp | 1 | LC |
Agriocnemis cf. maclachlani Selys, 1877 # | (near Forest Wisp) | 1! | LC |
Agriocnemis ruberrima Balinsky, 1961 | Orange Wisp | 1! | LC |
Agriocnemis toto Dijkstra, 2015 | Bruno’s Wisp | 1!** | DD |
Agriocnemis victoria Fraser, 1928 | Lesser Pincer-tailed Wisp | 1 | LC |
Azuragrion nigridorsum (Selys, 1876) | Sailing Bluet | 1 | LC |
Ceriagrion annulatum Fraser, 1955 | Green-eyed Citril | 1! | LC |
Ceriagrion bakeri Fraser, 1941 | Blue-fronted Citril | 3 | LC |
Ceriagrion corallinum Campion, 1914 | Green-fronted Citril | 1 | LC |
Ceriagrion glabrum (Burmeister, 1839) | Common Citril | 1 | LC |
Ceriagrion junceum Dijkstra & Kipping, 2015 | Spikerush Citril | 1! | LC |
Ceriagrion platystigma Fraser, 1941 | Variable Citril | 1 | LC |
Ceriagrion sakejii Pinhey, 1963 | Cream-sided Citril | 1! | LC |
Ceriagrion suave Ris, 1921 | Plain Citril | 1 | LC |
Ceriagrion whellani Longfield, 1952 | Yellow-faced Citril | 1! | LC |
Ischnura senegalensis (Rambur, 1842) | Tropical Bluetail | 1 | LC |
Pinheyagrion angolicum (Pinhey, 1966) | Pinhey’s Bluet | 1 | LC |
Pseudagrion (A) angolense Selys, 1876 | Angola Sprite | 1** | NT |
Pseudagrion (A) coeruleipunctum Pinhey, 1964 | Pretty Sprite | 3 | LC |
Pseudagrion (A) estesi Pinhey, 1971 | Estes’s Sprite | 1** | LC |
Pseudagrion (A) fisheri Pinhey, 1961 | Dark-tailed Sprite | 3 | LC |
Pseudagrion (A) greeni Pinhey, 1961 | Clasper-tailed Sprite | 1 | LC |
Pseudagrion (A) inconspicuum Ris, 1931 | Little Sprite | 1 | LC |
Pseudagrion (A) kersteni Gerstäcker, 1869 | Powder-faced Sprite | 1 | LC |
Pseudagrion (A) kibalense Longfield, 1959 | Forest Sprite | 1 | LC |
Pseudagrion (A) makabusiense Pinhey, 1950 | Green-striped Sprite | 3 | LC |
Pseudagrion (A) melanicterum Selys, 1876 | Farmbush Sprite | 1 | LC |
Pseudagrion (A) salisburyense Ris, 1921 | Slate Sprite | 1 | LC |
Pseudagrion (A) sarepi Kipping & Dijkstra, 2015 | Sarep Sprite | 1!** | DD |
Pseudagrion (A) serrulatum Karsch, 1894 | Superb Sprite | 1! | LC |
Pseudagrion (A) simonae Legrand, 1987 | Wide-striped Sprite | 1! | LC |
Pseudagrion (B) acaciae Förster, 1906 | Acacia Sprite | 1 | LC |
Pseudagrion (B) coeleste Longfield, 1947 | Catshead Sprite | 1 | LC |
Pseudagrion (B) deningi Pinhey, 1961 | Dark Sprite | 1! | LC |
Pseudagrion (B) dundoense Longfield, 1959 | Dundo Sprite | 2** | DD |
Pseudagrion (B) glaucescens Selys, 1876 | Blue-green Sprite | 1 | LC |
Pseudagrion (B) hamoni Fraser, 1955 | Swarthy Sprite | 1! | LC |
Pseudagrion (B) helenae Balinsky, 1964 | Little Blue Sprite | 1! | LC |
Pseudagrion (B) isidromorai Compte Sart, 1967 | Large Blue Sprite | 1! | LC |
Pseudagrion (B) massaicum Sjöstedt, 1909 | Masai Sprite | 1 | LC |
Pseudagrion (B) rufostigma Longfield, 1947 | Ruby Sprite | 1 | LC |
Pseudagrion (B) sjoestedti Förster, 1906 | Variable Sprite | 1 | LC |
Pseudagrion (B) sublacteum (Karsch, 1893) | Cherry-eye Sprite | 1 | LC |
Aeshnidae | |||
Afroaeschna scotias (Pinhey, 1952) | Shadow Hawker | 1! | LC |
Anax congoliath Fraser, 1953 | Dark Emperor | 1! | LC |
Anax ephippiger (Burmeister, 1839) | Vagrant Emperor | 1 | LC |
Anax imperator Leach, 1815 | Blue Emperor | 1 | LC |
Anax speratus Hagen, 1867 | Eastern Orange Emperor | 1 | LC |
Anax tristis Hagen, 1867 | Black Emperor | 1 | LC |
Gynacantha (A) sextans McLachlan, 1896 | Dark-rayed Duskhawker | 3 | LC |
Gynacantha (A) vesiculata Karsch, 1891 | Lesser Girdled Duskhawker | 3 | LC |
Gynacantha (B) manderica Grünberg, 1902 | Little Duskhawker | 3 | LC |
Heliaeschna fuliginosa Karsch, 1893 | Black-banded Duskhawker | 1 | LC |
Heliaeschna ugandica McLachlan, 1896 | Uganda Duskhawker | 3 | LC |
Pinheyschna rileyi (Calvert, 1892) | Bullseye Hawker | 3 | LC |
Gomphidae | |||
Crenigomphus cf. cornutus Pinhey, 1956 # | (near Horned Talontail) | 1! | LC |
Diastatomma selysi Schouteden, 1934 | Common Hoetail | 3 | LC |
Diastatomma soror Schouteden, 1934 | Painted Hoetail | 3 | LC |
Gomphidia quarrei (Schouteden, 1934) | Southern Fingertail | 3 | LC |
Ictinogomphus dundoensis Pinhey, 1961 | Swamp Tigertail | 1 | LC |
Ictinogomphus ferox (Rambur, 1842) | Common Tigertail | 1 | LC |
Ictinogomphus regisalberti (Schouteden, 1934) | Congo Tigertail | 3 | LC |
Lestinogomphus calcaratus Dijkstra, 2015 | Spurred Fairytail | 1! | LC |
Libyogomphus tenaculatus Fraser, 1926 | Large Horntail | 1! | LC |
Mastigogomphus chapini (Klots, 1944) # | Western Snorkeltail | 2 | LC |
Microgomphus cf. nyassicus (Grünberg, 1902) # | (near Eastern Scissortail) | 1! | LC |
Neurogomphus alius Cammaerts, 2004 | Large Siphontail | 1! | LC |
Notogomphus kimpavita Dijkstra & Clausnitzer, 2015 | Angola Longleg | 1!** | DD |
Notogomphus praetorius (Selys, 1878) | Yellowjack Longleg | 2 | LC |
Notogomphus cf. spinosus (Karsch, 1890) # | (near Jungle Longleg) | 1! | LC |
Onychogomphus rossii Pinhey, 1966 | Angola Claspertail | 2** | DD |
Onychogomphus cf. styx Pinhey, 1961# | (near Northern Dark Claspertail) | 1! | LC |
Paragomphus abnormis (Karsch, 1890) | Humdrum Hooktail | 1! | LC |
Paragomphus cf. darwalli Dijkstra, Mézière & Papazian, 2015 # | (near Darwall’s Hooktail) | 1! | DD |
Paragomphus genei (Selys, 1841) | Common Hooktail | 1 | LC |
Paragomphus machadoi Pinhey, 1961 | Forest Hooktail | 2 | LC |
Paragomphus cf. nigroviridis Cammaerts, 1969 # | (near Black-and-green Hooktail) | 1! | LC |
Phyllogomphus annulus Klots, 1944 | Crested Leaftail | 1 | LC |
Phyllogomphus selysi Schouteden, 1933 | Bold Leaftail | 3 | LC |
Macromiidae | |||
Phyllomacromia aureozona (Pinhey, 1966) | Golden-banded Cruiser | 1! | LC |
Phyllomacromia contumax Selys, 1879 | Two-banded Cruiser | 1! | LC |
Phyllomacromia hervei (Legrand, 1980) | River Cruiser | 1! | LC |
Phyllomacromia melania (Selys, 1871) | Sombre Cruiser | 1 | LC |
Phyllomacromia overlaeti (Schouteden, 1934) | Clubbed Cruiser | 3 | LC |
Phyllomacromia paula (Karsch, 1892) | Greater Double-spined Cruiser | 3 | LC |
Phyllomacromia picta (Hagen in Selys, 1871) | Darting Cruiser | 3 | LC |
Phyllomacromia unifasciata (Fraser, 1954) | Golden-eyed Cruiser | 3 | LC |
Libellulidae | |||
Acisoma inflatum Selys, 1882 | Stout Pintail | 1 | LC |
Acisoma trifidum Kirby, 1889 | Pied Pintail | 1 | LC |
Aethiothemis bequaerti Ris, 1919 | Skimmer-like Flasher | 1 | LC |
Aethiothemis ellioti (Lieftinck, 1969) | Plump Flasher | 1! | LC |
Aethiothemis mediofasciata Ris, 1931 # | Orange Flasher | 2 | LC |
Aethiothemis solitaria Martin, 1908 | Pearly Flasher | 1 | LC |
Aethriamanta rezia Kirby, 1889 | Pygmy Basker | 1 | LC |
Brachythemis lacustris (Kirby, 1889) | Red Groundling | 1 | LC |
Brachythemis leucosticta (Burmeister, 1839) | Southern Banded Groundling | 1 | LC |
Bradinopyga strachani (Kirby, 1900) | Red Rockdweller | 2 | LC |
Chalcostephia flavifrons Kirby, 1889 | Inspector | 1! | LC |
Crocothemis brevistigma Pinhey, 1961 | Spotted Scarlet | 1! | LC |
Crocothemis divisa Baumann, 1898 | Rock Scarlet | 1 | LC |
Crocothemis erythraea (Brullé, 1832) | Broad Scarlet | 1 | LC |
Crocothemis sanguinolenta (Burmeister, 1839) | Little Scarlet | 1 | LC |
Cyanothemis simpsoni Ris, 1915 | Bluebolt | 1! | LC |
Diplacodes deminuta Lieftinck, 1969 | Little Percher | 1 | LC |
Diplacodes lefebvrii (Rambur, 1842) | Black Percher | 1 | LC |
Diplacodes luminans (Karsch, 1893) | Barbet Percher | 1 | LC |
Diplacodes pumila Dijkstra, 2006 | Dwarf Percher | 1! | LC |
Eleuthemis eogaster Dijkstra, 2015 | Sunrise Firebelly | 1!** | DD |
Eleuthemis libera Dijkstra & Kipping, 2015 | Free Firebelly | 1! | DD |
Hadrothemis camarensis (Kirby, 1889) | Saddled Jungleskimmer | 3 | LC |
Hadrothemis coacta (Karsch, 1891) | Robust Jungleskimmer | 1! | LC |
Hadrothemis defecta (Karsch, 1891) | Scarlet Jungleskimmer | 3 | LC |
Hemistigma albipunctum (Rambur, 1842) | African Piedspot | 1 | LC |
Malgassophlebia bispina Fraser, 1958 | Ringed Leaftipper | 1! | LC |
Micromacromia camerunica Karsch, 1890 | Stream Micmac | 1! | LC |
Micromacromia flava (Longfield, 1947) | Angola Micmac | 1** | NT |
Neodythemis afra (Ris, 1909) | Seepage Junglewatcher | 1! | LC |
Neodythemis klingi (Karsch, 1890) | Stream Junglewatcher | 1! | LC |
Nesciothemis cf. farinosa (Förster, 1898) # | (near Eastern Blacktail) | 1 | LC |
Nesciothemis fitzgeraldi Longfield, 1955 | Lesser Peppertail | 1! | LC |
Notiothemis robertsi Fraser, 1944 | Western Forestwatcher | 1! | LC |
Olpogastra lugubris Karsch, 1895 | Bottletail | 1 | LC |
Orthetrum abbotti Calvert, 1892 | Little Skimmer | 1 | LC |
Orthetrum austeni (Kirby, 1900) | Giant Skimmer | 1 | LC |
Orthetrum brachiale (Palisot de Beauvois, 1817) | Banded Skimmer | 1 | LC |
Orthetrum caffrum (Burmeister, 1839) | Two-striped Skimmer | 1 | LC |
Orthetrum chrysostigma (Burmeister, 1839) | Epaulet Skimmer | 1 | LC |
Orthetrum guineense Ris, 1910 | Guinea Skimmer | 1 | LC |
Orthetrum hintzi Schmidt, 1951 | Dark-shouldered Skimmer | 1 | LC |
Orthetrum icteromelas Ris, 1910 | Spectacled Skimmer | 1 | LC |
Orthetrum julia Kirby, 1900 | Julia Skimmer | 1 | LC |
Orthetrum machadoi Longfield, 1955 | Highland Skimmer | 1 | LC |
Orthetrum macrostigma Longfield, 1947 | Sharkfin Skimmer | 1 | LC |
Orthetrum microstigma Ris, 1911 | Farmbush Skimmer | 1 | LC |
Orthetrum monardi Schmidt, 1951 | Woodland Skimmer | 1 | LC |
Orthetrum robustum Balinsky, 1965 | Robust Skimmer | 1! | LC |
Orthetrum saegeri Pinhey, 1966 | Mushroom Skimmer | 1! | LC |
Orthetrum stemmale (Burmeister, 1839) | Bold Skimmer | 1 | LC |
Orthetrum trinacria (Selys, 1841) | Long Skimmer | 1 | LC |
Oxythemis phoenicosceles Ris, 1910 | Pepperpants | 1! | LC |
Palpopleura albifrons Legrand, 1979 | Pale-faced Widow | 1! | LC |
Palpopleura deceptor (Calvert, 1899) | Deceptive Widow | 3 | LC |
Palpopleura jucunda (Rambur, 1842) | Yellow-veined Widow | 1 | LC |
Palpopleura lucia (Drury, 1773) | Lucia Widow | 1 | LC |
Palpopleura portia (Drury, 1773) | Portia Widow | 1 | LC |
Pantala flavescens (Fabricius, 1798) | Wandering Glider | 1 | LC |
Porpax asperipes Karsch, 1896 | Powdered Pricklyleg | 1 | LC |
Porpax risi Pinhey, 1958 | Highland Pricklyleg | 1 | LC |
Rhyothemis fenestrina (Rambur, 1842) | Skylight Flutterer | 1 | LC |
Rhyothemis mariposa Ris, 1913 | Butterfly Flutterer | 2 | LC |
Rhyothemis semihyalina (Desjardins, 1832) | Phantom Flutterer | 1! | LC |
Sympetrum fonscolombii (Selys, 1840) | Nomad | 2 | LC |
Tetrathemis camerunensis (Sjöstedt, 1900) | Forest Elf | 2 | LC |
Tetrathemis fraseri Legrand, 1977 | Treefall Elf | 1! | LC |
Tetrathemis polleni (Selys, 1869) | Black-splashed Elf | 2 | LC |
Thermochoria equivocata Kirby, 1889 | Dash-winged Piedface | 1! | LC |
Tholymis tillarga (Fabricius, 1798) | Twister | 1 | LC |
Tramea basilaris (Palisot de Beauvois, 1817) | Keyhole Glider | 1 | LC |
Trithemis aconita Lieftinck, 1969 | Halfshade Dropwing | 1! | LC |
Trithemis annulata (Palisot de Beauvois, 1807) | Violet Dropwing | 1 | LC |
Trithemis anomala Pinhey, 1956 | Striped Dropwing | 1! | LC |
Trithemis apicalis (Fraser, 1954) | Furtive Dropwing | 1! | LC |
Trithemis arteriosa (Burmeister, 1839) | Red-veined Dropwing | 1 | LC |
Trithemis basitincta Ris, 1912 | Jungle Dropwing | 1! | LC |
Trithemis dichroa Karsch, 1893 | Black Dropwing | 1 | LC |
Trithemis dorsalis (Rambur, 1842) | Highland Dropwing | 1 | LC |
Trithemis cf. dubia (Fraser, 1954) # | (near Sleek Dropwing) | 1! | DD |
Trithemis furva Karsch, 1899 | Navy Dropwing | 1 | LC |
Trithemis imitata Pinhey, 1961 # | Northern Fluttering Dropwing | 1! | LC |
Trithemis integra Dijkstra, 2007 | Albertine Dropwing | 1! | LC |
Trithemis kirbyi Selys, 1891 | Orange-winged Dropwing | 1 | LC |
Trithemis leakeyi (Pinhey, 1956) | Mealy Dropwing | 1! | LC |
Trithemis monardi Ris, 1931 # | Southern Fluttering Dropwing | 1 | LC |
Trithemis nuptialis Karsch, 1894 | Hairy-legged Dropwing | 1 | LC |
Trithemis palustris Damm & Hadrys, 2009 # | Marsh Dropwing | 1! | LC |
Trithemis pluvialis Förster, 1906 | Russet Dropwing | 1 | LC |
Trithemis pruinata Karsch, 1899 | Cobalt Dropwing | 1! | LC |
Trithemis stictica (Burmeister, 1839) | Jaunty Dropwing | 1 | LC |
Trithemis werneri Ris, 1912 | Elegant Dropwing | 3 | LC |
Urothemis assignata (Selys, 1872) | Red Basker | 1 | LC |
Urothemis edwardsii (Selys, 1849) | Blue Basker | 1 | LC |
Zygonoides fuelleborni (Grünberg, 1902) | Southern Riverking | 3 | LC |
Zygonyx denticulatus Dijkstra & Kipping, 2015 | Pale Cascader | 1! | LC |
Zygonyx eusebia (Ris, 1912) | Imperial Cascader | 3 | LC |
Zygonyx flavicosta (Sjöstedt, 1900) | Ensign Cascader | 1 | LC |
Zygonyx natalensis (Martin, 1900) | Blue Cascader | 1 | LC |
Zygonyx regisalberti (Schouteden, 1934) | Regal Cascader | 1 | LC |
Zygonyx torridus (Kirby, 1889) | Ringed Cascader | 1 | LC |
Species | English name | Reason for exclusion |
---|---|---|
Platycnemididae | ||
Elattoneura frenulata (Hagen in Selys, 1860) # | Sooty Theadtail | See discussion. |
Mesocnemis singularis Karsch, 1891 # | Common Riverjack | See discussion. |
Coenagrionidae | ||
Aciagrion gracile (Sjöstedt, 1909) | Graceful Slim | Pinhey (1972) reidentified a series collected at Caianda ( |
Agriocnemis zerafica Le Roi, 1915 | Sahel Wisp | Sahelian species unlikely to occur in Angola; probably misidentification. |
Ceriagrion varians (Martin, 1908) | Orange-red Citril | Taxonomic confusion with C. platystigma; see |
Pseudagrion (A) hageni Karsch, 1893 | Painted Sprite | All Angolan records might refer to P. angolense Selys, 1876 as that was formerly considered a synonym of P. hageni, although the latter occurs in DRC and Zambia close to the Angolan border. |
Pseudagrion (A) spernatum Selys, 1881 | Upland Sprite | Three records under the synonym Pseudagrion gerstaeckeri Karsch, 1899 from highlands around Huambo are far outside the known range. The species might occur near the Zambian border. |
Pseudagrion (A) monardi Longfield, 1947 | - | Synonym of P. angolense Selys, 1876. |
Gomphidae | ||
Crenigomphus hartmanni (Förster, 1898) | Clubbed Talontail | A female from Cubango ( |
Gomphidia bredoi (Schouteden, 1934) | Northern Fingertail | A female from Dundo ( |
Microgomphus bivittatus Pinhey, 1961 | - | Treated as a synonym to Mastigogomphus chapini (see discussion). |
Paragomphus cognatus (Rambur, 1842) # | Rock Hooktail | See discussion. |
Phyllogomphus dundomajoricus Fraser, 1957 | - | Synonym of Phyllogomphus annulus ( |
Phyllogomphus dundominusculus Fraser, 1957 | - | Synonym of Phyllogomphus annulus ( |
Phyllogomphus latifasciae Pinhey, 1961 | - | Synonym of Phyllogomphus selysi ( |
Macromiidae | ||
Phyllomacromia aequatorialis Martin, 1906 | - | A small series from Dundo ( |
Libellulidae | ||
Acisoma panorpoides Rambur, 1842 | Grizzled Pintail |
|
Eleuthemis buettikoferi Ris, 1910 | Western Firebelly | Genus thought to be monotypic until new species were described by |
Trithemis donaldsoni (Calvert, 1899) | Denim Dropwing | The record of two females from Dundo ( |
Zygonoides occidentis (Ris, 1912) | Congo Riverking | Known from the Congo River basin. What |
Zygonyx speciosus Karsch, 1891 | Specious Cascader | A rainforest species known mainly from Cameroon and confused with Z. regisalberti. |
Odonata recorded from bordering rivers that most likely occur in Angola too.
Species | English name | Nearest occurrence |
---|---|---|
Platycnemididae | ||
Mesocnemis singularis Karsch, 1891 | Common Riverjack | Cunene, Okavango and Kwando Rivers in northern Namibia. |
Coenagrionidae | ||
Africallagma subtile (Ris, 1921) | Fragile Bluet | Okavango and Oshikango Rivers in northern Namibia. |
Agriocnemis gratiosa Gerstäcker, 1891 | Gracious Wisp | Okavango and Kwando Rivers in Namibian Caprivi Strip. |
Pseudagrion (A) spernatum Selys, 1881 | Upland Sprite | At Jimbe and other rivers in Ikelenge Pedicle of north-western Zambia. |
Pseudagrion (B) assegaii Pinhey, 1950 | Assegai Sprite | Kwando River in Namibian Caprivi Strip. |
Pseudagrion (B) sudanicum Le Roi, 1915 | Blue-sided Sprite | Okavango and Kwando Rivers in Namibian Caprivi Strip. |
Aeshnidae | ||
Anax bangweuluensis Kimmins, 1955 | Swamp Emperor | Common in the Okavango Delta ( |
Gomphidae | ||
Crenigomphus kavangoensis Suhling & Marais, 2010 | Kavango Talontail | Okavango River in Namibia. |
Lestinogomphus angustus Martin, 1911 | Common Fairytail | Cunene, Okavango and Kwando Rivers in northern Namibia. |
Lestinogomphus silkeae Kipping, 2010 | Silke’s Fairytail | One locality on the southern bank of the Okavango River near Rundu, Namibia. |
Mastigogomphus cf. dissimilis (Cammaerts, 2004) | (near Southern Snokeltail) | Larvae found at two places on the Namibian bank of the Okavango ( |
Paragomphus cataractae Pinhey, 1963 | Cataract Hooktail | Waterfalls and rapids of the Cunene and Okavango Rivers in northern Namibia. |
Neurogomphus cocytius Cammaerts, 2004 | Kokytos Siphontail | Okavango River in northern Namibia. |
Paragomphus elpidius (Ris, 1921) | Corkscrew Hooktail | Cunene, Okavango and Kwando Rivers in northern Namibia and the Ikelenge Pedicle of Zambia. |
Paragomphus sabicus Pinhey, 1950 | Flapper Hooktail | Okavango and Kwando Rivers in northern Namibia. |
Libellulidae | ||
Parazyxomma flavicans (Martin, 1908) | Banded Duskdarter | Okavango and Kwando Rivers in northern Namibia. |
Trithemis aequalis Lieftinck, 1969 | Swamp Dropwing | Okavango and Kwando Rivers in the Namibian Caprivi. |
Trithemis donaldsoni (Calvert, 1899) | Denim Dropwing | Okavango and Cunene Rivers in northern Namibia. |
Trithemis hecate Ris, 1912 | Silhouette Dropwing | Common along the Cunene, Okavango and Kwando Rivers in northern Namibia. |
Trithemis morrisoni Damm & Hadrys, 2009 | Rapids Dropwing | Okavango and Kwando Rivers in the Namibian Caprivi (see note on T. palustris above). |
Trithetrum navasi (Lacroix, 1921) | Fiery Darter | Cunene, Okavango and Kwando Rivers in northern Namibia. |
Sapho orichalcea – This species has been separated from S. gloriosa McLachlan, 1873 by the absence of a matt band on the otherwise wholly dark wings of both sexes (
Chlorocypha and Platycypha – Platycypha Fraser, 1949 is distinguished from Chlorocypha Fraser, 1928 only by the largely coloured and often widened male tibiae (
Platycypha angolensis and P. caligata – While described as a subspecies of P. caligata, COI sequences of angolensis are nearer (but not identical) to those of crocea and cf. bamptoni than typical caligata from eastern and southern Afrca. Moreover, angolensis males have the thorax sides greenish with hardly a red tinge at maturity, the fore tibiae more abruptly widened at the base, the (especially hind) femora apically reddish and not contrasting with the tibiae, and black apical bars present on the abdominal segments up to S6 rather than S4 or S5. P. angolensis is thus treated as good species, which is widespread on and around the Angolan plateau. True P. caligata appears to extend into Angola from Zambia.
Platycypha bamptoni, Platycypha cf. bamptoni and P. crocea – The former was described as a subspecies of the latter but is easily separated in the field by its larger size, more robust build and distinct thoracic and abdominal markings. We propose to treat them as distinct species. Specimens like P. bamptoni from the upper Cubango differ from those of Tundavala and might represent an undescribed species.
Platycypha rubriventris – This species is only known from two males collected in 1965 at Teixeira de Sousa in north-eastern Angola. This should refer to the modern town of Luau on the DRC border, although its altitude (about 1,000 m) and location well to the east of the central plateau are surprising for an Angolan endemic.
Elattoneura cellularis, E. frenulata and E. tarbotonorum –
Elattoneura cf. glauca –
Mesocnemis cf. singularis –
Agriocnemis cf. maclachlani – Females in this genus are difficult to identify morphologically. The COI sequence of one collected near Uíge is nearest (but not identical to) that of males of A. maclachlani from central and western Africa.
Crenigomphus cf. cornutus – Females of this genus are difficult to identify. Those collected recently near N’dalantando and Cuchi are morphologically similar to females caught in copula with males of C. cornutus in Zambia close to the Angolan border.
Mastigogomphus chapini –
Microgomphus cf. nyassicus – Microgomphus identification is uncertain as long as the status of the potentially synonymous M. schoutedeni Fraser, 1949 is unresolved.
Notogomphus cf. spinosus – The larvae of this genus have not been treated taxonomically. The COI sequences of two collected near Uíge are nearest (but not identical to) those of six adults of N. spinosus from Gabon.
Onychogomphus cf. styx – The taxonomy of the Afrotropical species placed in Onychogomphus is problematic, especially the dark species (
Paragomphus cognatus – Despite progress made by
Paragomphus cf. darwalli and P. cf. nigroviridis – The larvae of this genus have not been treated taxonomically. The COI sequence of one larva collected near Uíge is nearest (but not identical to) that of ten adults described recently as P. darwalli from Gabon, while another from there is nearest (but not identical to) eight adults identified as P. nigroviridis from Liberia, Gabon and DRC (
Aethiothemis mediofasciata – This species was described from a single female collected by Monard at Chimporo in southern Angola in 1928. While the holotype agrees with females associated with a species found from Liberia to Gabon and Congo-Brazzaville, the recent rediscovery of A. gamblesi (Lieftinck, 1969) in Zambia casts doubt on its taxonomic status. Males are almost identical, the abdomen being orange with maturity in A. mediofasciata (as now known) and grey pruinose in A. gamblesi. No characters to separate females are known as yet. The Angolan type locality is highly isolated: 1,300 km south of the nearest recorded orange male and 900 km west of the nearest pruinose male. Likely only further records of males from Angola can resolve the issue.
Nesciothemis cf. farinosa – Large black-tipped Nesciothemis are currently classified as two species that differ mainly in the extent of pruinosity on the mature male abdomen: at most to the base of S4 in N. pujoli Pinhey, 1971 from western Africa, but up to the very base of S7 in N. farinosa from southern and eastern Africa, although usually it does not extend beyond S5 and (more rarely) S6. However, in Angola and adjacent Namibia and Botswana mature males invariably have even the entire dorsum of S7 pruinose and sometimes the extreme base of S8 as well. COI sequences of Angolan specimens differ more from those of both N. pujoli and N. farinosa sampled across Africa, than these two differ from each other (Dijkstra unpubl.). Thus, an unnamed taxon may be present in south-western Africa.
Trithemis cf. dubia – Males from eastern Angola and Zambia differ in the shape of the hamule from those collected in Gabon, while the thoracic pattern differs from the female holotype of T. dubia from Lake Asebbe in Gabon. They belong to the longistyla-group of Trithemis with several species placed formerly in Anectothemis, Congothemis, Lokithemis and Porpacithemis (see
Trithemis imitata and T. monardi – It is unclear whether these are distinct species or if T. imitata is a paler and generally more northerly variety of T. monardi. Both are currently listed for Angola.
Trithemis palustris –
Angola’s rich dragonfly fauna expresses its geographic position, size and diversity (Fig.
Almost 30% are confined to forest habitats in the north, mostly below 1,000 m asl, e.g. Phaon camerunensis, Umma longistigma, Chlorocypha cancellata, Allocnemis pauli, Elattoneura lliba, Africallagma vaginale, Agriocnemis forcipata, Ceriagrion annulatum, Pseudagrion kibalense, Anax congoliath, Neurogomphus alius, Paragomphus machadoi, Phyllomacromia aureozona, Acisoma trifidum, Cyanothemis simpsoni, Hadrothemis camarensis, Malgassophlebia bispina, Micromacromia camerunica, Neodythemis klingi, Notiothemis robertsi, Orthetrum austeni, Oxythemis phoenicosceles, Porpax asperipes, Thermochoria equivocata, Trithemis basitincta and Zygonyx regisalberti. Nine species confined to the Lower Guinea, the forest area that stretches between the Congo Basin and Atlantic Ocean from Cameroon to Gabon and western Congo, reach their southern limit in north-western Angola: Sapho orichalcea, Chlorocypha cyanifrons, Platycypha rufitibia, Copera congolensis, Pseudagrion simonae, Paragomphus abnormis, P. cf. darwalli and Tetrathemis fraseri.
Nearly 20% favour the swamps, grasslands, miombo woodlands and gallery forests that stretch eastwards, mostly above 1,000 m asl. This fauna is concentrated in Katanga and northern Zambia, but has now been proven to extend across to the Angolan upland with species like Umma electa, Chlorocypha fabamacula, Aciagrion steeleae, Ceriagrion sakejii, Pinheyagrion angolicum, Pseudagrion greeni, P. inconspicuum, P. deningi, Phyllomacromia unifasciata, Aethiothemis ellioti, Crocothemis brevistigma, Eleuthemis libera, Nesciothemis fitzgeraldi, Orthetrum macrostigma, Porpax risi, Rhyothemis mariposa, Trithemis anomala, T. leakeyi and Zygonyx denticulatus. The discovery of Trithemis integra near Uíge is of special interest, as it seemed endemic to the Albertine Rift, being known previously only from western Tanzania and Uganda and eastern DRC.
Sixteen species have so far only been found in Angola. With the exception of two known only from their type locality, all are limited to the central plateau (Figs
Only Platycypha presents an endemic radiation. While the genus Chlorocypha has diversified with almost 30 species largely in the forested lowlands of west and central Africa, Platycypha is more varied and includes at least four open-land species (Fig.
The four endemic Pseudagrion species, for example, have separate origins but similar links: morphology and COI data suggest that the nearest relatives of P. angolense and P. estesi are the rainforest species P. grilloti Legrand, 1987 and P. kibalense respectively. The former is limited to Congo and Gabon but the latter extends to Cameroon and Uganda. P. sarepi is closely related to P. fisheri and P. greeni, both of which extend from Angola into Zambia. While these species belong to the genus’s A-group, the B-group species P. dundoense is known only from Dundo and (as noted above) may not be endemic at all. Notogomphus kimpavita is the sister-species of N. praetorius found in highlands across southern Africa (including Angola), while Eleuthemis eogaster is nearest to an unnamed species from Gabon (
Thus, like the majority of Angola’s Odonata, most endemics probably originated quite recently and proximally from the forests to the north and open habitats to the east. However, some affinities are unresolved and potentially more distant: Agriocnemis toto and especially A. canuango have no obvious close relatives (
Distribution of the endemic crocea-group of Platycypha species and all congeneric taxa. Names of taxa that favour open habitats are in black, those tending toward forest in white (although P. rufitibia occurs on very open rivers); abbreviations: am — P. amboniensis, in — P. inyangae, la — form “lacus” of P. caligata which may represent a distinct species, pi — P. pinheyi. The rather dispersed forest species P. lacustris is shown with black squares (adapted from
Photographs of some of Angola’s (near) endemic dragonflies and damselflies. a Angola Sparklewing (Umma femina) b Highland Blue Jewel (Platycypha bamptoni) c Angola Blue Jewel (Platycypha crocea) d Blue Wisp (Agriocnemis angolensis) e Sarep Sprite (Pseudagrion sarepi) f Estes’s Sprite (Pseudagrion estesi) g Angola Sprite (Pseudagrion angolense) h Sunrise Firebelly (Eleuthemis eogaster) (a S. Fernandes Elizalde b–f J. Kipping g W. Tarboton, h K.D. Dijkstra).
If we compare the tallies for the well-studied neighbours Zambia and Namibia, the total number of species in Angola should lie somewhat above 300, meaning that less than 80% of the fauna is currently known. Additions can be expected throughout the country, but especially on the eastern and particularly northern border. Appropriately, the province of Lunda Norte should be the richest area of discovery, around Dundo where exploration began in the 1950s. On the other hand, the central highlands could expect more suprises, like the discovery of additional endemic species, with three areas being especially notable.
Firstly, despite having most records, the north-south directed range that lies entirely above 1,600 m asl and includes the Serra do Chilengue, Serra da Chela and Angola’s highest peak at Mt Moco (2,620 m asl) is poorly sampled as the large gaps in Fig.
New species are most likely to be found among genera prone to narrow (highland) ranges, i.e. with known Angolan endemics like Platycypha and Pseudagrion, but also Agriocnemis, Elattoneura, Notogomphus and perhaps Paragomphus. However, given the biogeographic diversity of Angola’s fauna and endemics, we could expect greater surprises. Among forest genera with no known Angolan endemic, Allocnemis seems most likely to reveal one, e.g. on the escarpment. The presence (or local endemism) of distinctly Lower Guinean genera like Neurolestes, Africocypha, Pentaphlebia and Stenocnemis seems less likely, but the Lower Guinean Stenocypha gracilis (Karsch, 1899) has four endemic relatives in the Albertine Rift and the sister-taxon of the Upper and Lower Guinean Tragogomphus is Nepogomphoides stuhlmanni (Karsch, 1899) in the Eastern Arc, suggesting an Angolan taxon is possible.
Three typical African highland genera are notably absent from Angola. Atoconeura is most likely to be present, being found in Zambia, Katanga, the Lower Guinea and Albertine Rift. However, its absence also from South Africa suggests historical factors may have been limiting, e.g. that the highlands were uninhabitable in cooler periods and unreachable when habitats were suitable (
If these genera do occur in Angola, they might only occur above 1,400 m asl and could constitute endemic species. More probable, however, is the discovery of endemics in genera that are well-represented across the country and continent, and that have highland endemics elsewhere but not in Angola, such as Africallagma, Neodythemis and Orthetrum. The only record of Pinheyschna rileyi in upland Angola is of a female, which might also turn out to represent a distinctive population. Finally, there is a remote chance that a (mainly) South African genus like Syncordulia or Ceratogomphus is present. As the family Synlestidae is also represented by Nubiolestes in the Lower Guinea, while Chlorolestes is also probable.
Our findings show that Angola’s wealth of aquatic habitats harbours a rich freshwater fauna. Although large areas are relatively untouched, Angola’s rapid economic and population growth will have a tremendous impact on the environment and thus human well-being in the future. In the light of this, Angola’s development should consider (1) establishment of sewage works in cities and larger villages; (2) a stop on deforestation, especially along stream courses; (3) restoration of deforested water catchments; (4) village-level awareness campaigns for sustainable use of freshwater sources, e.g. no detergents and waste dumping in rivers; (5) biodiversity surveys and monitoring to feed into a national conservation plan.
Angola has agreed to the Aichi Targets of the Convention on Biological Diversity, including Target 12 that ensures that populations of threatened species do not decrease. Figure
Angola has an exceptional fauna of dragonflies and damselflies, as well as many valuable rivers and wetlands. Odonata are excellent indicators of the health and biodiversity of both the freshwater and terrestrial realm. As the biological survey of Angola advances, they should be a priority taxon. Dragonflies are also positive symbols, as one soldier sent to Angola during the civil war wrote (Greg Bridges in litt.):
A memory that will never fade is watching dragonflies, in their variegated splendour of colour and dazzle, hovering and darting over stagnant pools. They helped me to transport to better things than war. If we found water to fill our canteens and I saw these little creatures, I would always try to get back to the pool later, by myself. And I would find a little piece of heaven.
Jens Kipping is grateful to Dr. Paula Coelho (MINAMB) for making the survey in southern Angola possible, to Dr Chris Brooks of SAREP for the preparation and organization of the 2012 survey, to Martha Alexandre Zumbo (MINAMB), Maria Helena Loa (MINAMB), Julius Bravo (MINAMB), Francisco de Almeida (INIP), Manuel Domingos (INIP) and Gabriel Cabinda (Agriculture and Rural Development and Fisheries) for their help in organization and management on the tour, and to Vince Shacks and Werner Conradie for collecting specimens on the second SAREP survey. Viola Clausnitzer and KD Dijkstra thank Alvaro Bruno Toto Nienguesso, the driving force behind biodiversity research in Uíge Province, Angola, Prof Dr Neinhuis and Dr Thea Lautenschlaeger from TU Dresden for inviting us to join the field survey in the Uíge province. The fieldwork in Angola was supported by a travel fund from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). These published results were obtained in collaboration with the Instituto Nacional da Biodiversidade e Áreas de Conservação (INBAC) of the Ministério do Ambiente da República de Angola. Chris Hines provided photographic records and Warwick Tarboton gave permission to use his records and photograph.