| Chlorolestes conspicuus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Male | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Family: | Synlestidae |
| Genus: | Chlorolestes |
| Species: | C. conspicuus |
| Binomial name | |
| Chlorolestes conspicuus Selys, 1862 | |
Chlorolestes conspicuus, the conspicuous malachite is a species of damselfly in the family Synlestidae. It is endemic to south-western South Africa. This species is found at rivers and streams in both open and wooded valleys. [2]
Damselflies are insects of the suborder Zygoptera in the order Odonata. They are similar to dragonflies, which constitute the other odonatan suborder, Anisoptera, but are smaller, have slimmer bodies, and most species fold the wings along the body when at rest. An ancient group, damselflies have existed since at least the Lower Permian, and are found on every continent except Antarctica.
The Synlestidae are a family of damselflies commonly known as sylphs or malachites. They occur in South Africa, Australia, and South America.
Endemism is the ecological state of a species being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation, country or other defined zone, or habitat type; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsewhere. The extreme opposite of endemism is cosmopolitan distribution. An alternative term for a species that is endemic is precinctive, which applies to species that are restricted to a defined geographical area.
Although its range is restricted, this locally common species is not threatened at present. [1]
The largest species in its genus, it is 59–65 mm long with a wingspan of 64–72 mm. Males and females are similar; the thorax and abdomen are metallic-green aging to coppery brown. The thorax has yellow or bronze antehumeral stripes. Both sexes can be distinguished from other malachites by their long (>2.5 mm), uniformly coloured pterostigmas and wing venation. [2]
The thorax or chest is a part of the anatomy of humans and various other animals located between the neck and the abdomen. The thorax includes the thoracic cavity and the thoracic wall. It contains organs including the heart, lungs, and thymus gland, as well as muscles and various other internal structures. Many diseases may affect the chest, and one of the most common symptoms is chest pain.
The abdomen constitutes the part of the body between the thorax (chest) and pelvis, in humans and in other vertebrates. The abdomen is the frontal part of the abdominal segment of the trunk, the dorsal part of this segment being the back of the abdomen. The region occupied by the abdomen is termed the abdominal cavity. In arthropods it is the posterior tagma of the body; it follows the thorax or cephalothorax. The abdomen stretches from the thorax at the thoracic diaphragm to the pelvis at the pelvic brim. The pelvic brim stretches from the lumbosacral joint to the pubic symphysis and is the edge of the pelvic inlet. The space above this inlet and under the thoracic diaphragm is termed the abdominal cavity. The boundary of the abdominal cavity is the abdominal wall in the front and the peritoneal surface at the rear.
Chlorolestes is a genus of damselflies in the family Synlestidae. They are commonly known as Malachites.
