Anax chloromelas Ris, 1911
Black-and-blue Emperor

Type locality: Secteur de Basoko, DRC

Diagnosis

Male is similar to A. tristis by (a) dorsum of frons with black basal marking that is wider than vertex, but no anterior dark bar; (b) femora brown to black, rather like tibiae; (c) S4-10 black with (sometimes indistinct) yellow to blue spots; (d) epiproct has 15-30% length of cerci, broad with truncate or widely notched apex, teeth usually only at apex. However, differs by (1) smaller size, Hw 48-52 mm; (2) Hw base without dark patch; (3) membranule all dark, rather than dark with contrasting whitish base; (4) Abd about as long as Hw, rather than 1.5x length of Hw; (5) markings on S3-10 blue, probably green at first, rather than yellow turning greenish or brownish with age; (6) cerci triangular with tapered apex, rather than rectangular with truncate apex. [Adapted from Dijkstra & Clausnitzer 2014]

Habitat description

Standing and often temporary waters in open landscapes or open areas in forest. Usually with emergent and probably often aquatic vegetation. From 0 to 1800 m above sea level, but possibly up to 2300.

Distribution

confirmed: Cameroon; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Gabon; Liberia; Malawi; Mozambique; Nigeria; Sierra Leone; Uganda; Zambia; NOT confirmed: Côte d'Ivoire


Male © KD Dijkstra


Appendages (dorsal 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, Mt Tokadeh © Dijkstra, K.-D.B. & M. Darpay


Female; Democratic Republic of Congo, Katanga, Upemba National Park © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


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


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


Female; Gabon, Haut-Ogooué, Franceville-Okondja Road © Dijkstra, K.-D.B., Nicolas Mézière & Cédric Vanappelghem

References

  • Ris, F. (1911). Ueber einige afrikanische Arten der Aeschninen-Gattung Anax. Annales Societe Entomologique Belgique, 55, 320-324. [PDF file]
  • Pinhey, E.C.G. (1961). Dragonflies (Odonata) of Central Africa. Occasional Papers Rhodes-Livingstone Museum, 14, 1-97. [PDF file]
  • Pinhey, E.C.G. (1966). Check-list of dragonflies (Odonata) from Malawi, with description of a new Teinobasis Kirby. Arnoldia, 2, 1-24. [PDF file]
  • Schouteden, H. (1934). Annales Musee Congo belge Zoologie 3 Section 2, 3, 1-84. [PDF file]

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