Ceratogomphus pictus

Ceratogomphus pictus
Male
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Family: Gomphidae
Genus: Ceratogomphus
Species: C. pictus
Binomial name
Ceratogomphus pictus
Hagen in Selys, 1854

Ceratogomphus pictus, the common thorntail is a species of dragonfly in the family Gomphidae. It is found in Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe and possibly the Democratic Republic of Congo (one isolated record from Katanga[1]). Its natural habitats are the edges of large pools and slow-flowing streams.[2]

This dragonfly is 46–53 mm long, with a wingspan of 60–69 mm.[3] The face is yellow with black bands and the eyes are greyish blue. The synthorax has broad grey and greenish-yellow stripes bordered by thin black lines. Segments 1-7 of the abdomen have broken black and yellow rings, and segment 8 has large yellow foliations with black edges. Segment 10 has a sharp, forward-pointing spine that extends over the top of segment 9.[4]

Female common thorntail

References

  1. Dijkstra, K.-D.B.; Clausnitzer, V. (2014). The dragonflies and damselflies of eastern Africa. Tervuren: Royal Museum for Central Africa. ISBN 978-94-916-1506-1.
  2. Clausnitzer, V.; Suhling, F. (2010). "Ceratogomphus pictus". http://www.iucnredlist.org. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Retrieved 8 February 2013. External link in |website= (help)
  3. Tarboton, Warwick & Michèle (2002). A fieldguide to the dragonflies of South Africa. South Africa: Warwick & Michèle Tarboton. ISBN 0620298871.
  4. Samways, Michael J. (2008). Dragonflies and damselflies of South Africa (1st ed.). Sofia: Pensoft. ISBN 9789546423306.


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