Ceriagrion glabrum | |
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Adult male | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Odonata |
Suborder: | Zygoptera |
Family: | Coenagrionidae |
Genus: | Ceriagrion |
Species: | C. glabrum |
Binomial name | |
Ceriagrion glabrum (Burmeister, 1839) | |
Synonyms | |
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Ceriagrion glabrum is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. Its common names include common orange, common citril, [2] common pond damsel, common waxtail, orange waxtail and gewone aljander. It is widespread in Africa, where it is found in habitats that are dominated by reeds.
This is a small to medium size damselfly (length up to 46 mm (1.8 in), wingspan up to 53 mm (2.1 in)). [3] The eyes are greenish with a dark grey cap. [4] As is the case in many damselflies, this species shows strong sexual dimorphism. Males have a bright orange, unmarked abdomen and thorax, with a lighter yellow-orange colour on the sides of the abdomen. [3] Females range from brown to green to orange. They become increasingly orange with age, although they never reach the same striking brightness of the males. [5]
This is by far the most common and widespread African Ceriagrion species. [6] It has been observed to occur in Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Réunion, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, [1] and probably in Sudan. [6]
It is found in a variety of freshwater habitats, including marshes, ponds, dams, pans and the quiet backwaters of rivers and streams. It prefers sites that are rich in reeds, grasses and sedges. [3]
This species sits and flies among the stems of reeds, grasses and sedge, mainly making use of low perches near the water. [3] [7] Adults are only capable of short, weak flight. [7] While they are mostly found at water, they are also frequently found some distance away. [3] It can be a fierce predator of other, smaller damselflies, particularly when they are young and still soft bodied. [4]
This species is listed as least concern by the IUCN. It is highly adaptable and readily utilises suitable artificial habitats, such as dams. [3]
Anax tristis, the black emperor or magnificent emperor, is an African species of dragonfly in the family Aeshnidae. At up to about 120 mm (4.7 in) in total length and 135 mm (5.3 in) in wingspan, it is one of the world's largest dragonflies and the largest in Africa.
Brachythemis leucosticta, the banded groundling or Southern banded groundling, is a species of dragonfly belonging to the family Libellulidae. It is found in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Ceriagrion is a genus of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. Species of Ceriagrion are small to medium size, generally brightly coloured damselflies. They are found across the Old World, Africa, Asia and Australia.
Crenigomphus hartmanni, the clubbed talontail, is a species of dragonfly in the family Gomphidae.
Nesciothemis farinosa (Eastern Blacktail) is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae.
Olpogastra lugubris, the slender bottletail, is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae; it is the only species in its genus.
Paragomphus cognatus, the rock hooktail, is a species of dragonfly in the family Gomphidae.
Paragomphus genei, the common hooktail, is a species of dragonfly in the family Gomphidae.
Pseudagrion acaciae, the acacia sprite is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is found in Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical rivers and floodplains.
Pseudagrion newtoni, the harlequin sprite, is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae.
Trithemis pluvialis, the russet dropwing, is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It occurs in Africa south of Kenya.
Elattoneura frenulata is a species of damselfly in the family Platycnemididae known commonly as the sooty threadtail or Roetswartdraadstertjie. It is endemic to South Africa. It is a localised endemic of montane areas of the Western Cape, marginally expanding into the western parts of the Eastern Cape. Though it has a restricted distribution, it is locally common. It lives near slow-moving rivers with abundant vegetation.
Allocnemis leucosticta, the goldtail or goudstertjie, is a species of damselfly in the family Platycnemididae. It is endemic to South Africa and Eswatini, where it lives near streams and rivers in wooded areas.
Agriocnemis falcifera, the white-masked whisp, is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is endemic to southern Africa. This tiny damselfly is found in grassy fringes of ponds and pools and is gregarious.
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. Its natural habitats are the edges of large pools and slow-flowing streams.
Proischnura rotundipennis, the round-winged bluet is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is scarce and localised.
Proischnura polychromatica, the mauve bluet, is a small species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is endemic to a small area of Cape Province in South Africa. The adult male has a mauve sheen to its dark-coloured body, a bronze-green thorax striped with mauve, and a pale brown abdomen with a bronze-green dorsal stripe. The female is mainly pale brown. The natural habitat of this damselfly is transient pools in stream beds with floating vegetation, especially sedges. Although previously more widespread, it is now known from a single location where it is threatened by the encroachment of cattle and the loss of suitable habitat. For these reasons, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated it as "endangered".
Ceriagrion coromandelianum is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. it is commonly known as coromandel marsh dart and yellow waxtail. This species can be found in South Asian countries such as: India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Nepal.
Pseudagrion makabusiense, the green-striped sprite or Makabusi sprite, is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae.
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