Ceratogomphus pictus

Ceratogomphus pictus
Male
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Odonata
Infraorder:	Anisoptera
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 ^[2] ). Its natural habitats are the edges of large pools and slow-flowing streams. ^[1]

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. Clausnitzer, V.; Suhling, F. (2010). "Ceratogomphus pictus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2010 e.T63183A12611098. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T63183A12611098.en .
2. 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.
3. Tarboton, Warwick & Michèle (2002). A fieldguide to the dragonflies of South Africa. South Africa: Warwick & Michèle Tarboton. ISBN   0-620-29887-1.
4. Samways, Michael J. (2008). Dragonflies and damselflies of South Africa (1st ed.). Sofia: Pensoft. ISBN   978-954-642-330-6.

External links

• Common thorntail Species text in the Online Atlas of South African Odonata