Platycypha auripes (Förster, 1906)
Tanzania Jewel

Type locality: Usambara Mts, Tanzania

Diagnosis

Male is similar to P. eliseva by (a) rather large in size, Hw 18-26 mm; (b) humeral and metapleural black stripes broad, wider than thickness of hind femur, obscuring pale ‘posthumeral’ stripe; (c) femora largely dark, typically contrasting with white, yellow and/or red tibiae; (d) Abd orange to red and without blue, S8-10 largely black or yellow. However, differs by (1) occurring in E Tanzania; (2) posterior side of tibiae yellow rather than red; (3) dorsum of S8 reddish and black, rather than yellow and black and S9-10 all black rather than yellow. [Adapted from Dijkstra & Clausnitzer 2014]

Habitat description

Streams shaded by forest. Usually with dead trunks or branches and probably submerged roots and/or coarse detritus. From 200 to 1000 m above sea level, but possibly up to 1600.

Distribution

Abdomen (dorsal view)

Thorax (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):

Reference

• Förster, F. (1906). Die Libellulidengattungen von Afrika und Madagaskar. Jahresbericht Mannheimer Vereins Naturkunde, 72, s1-s67.

Citation: Dijkstra, K.-D.B (editor). African Dragonflies and Damselflies Online. http://addo.adu.org.za/ [2024-11-14].