Chlorocypha maxima Dijkstra, Kipping & Mézière, 2015
Great Jewel

Type locality: Mts de Chaillu, Gabon

Diagnosis

Male is similar to C. dahli by its (a) largely bright occiput, postclypeus, genae and mandibular bases that contrast with the wholly black anteclypeus and labrum and largely black frons; (b) bright antehumeral stripes that cover most of the mesepisterna; (c) red abdominal dorsum with black markings reduced to a pair of large subapical dots on S2 and smaller pairs on S3-4 and sometimes S5-6; and (d) boldly black and yellow abdomen underside. However, unlike it and most Chlorocypha has (1) large size, Hw 25.5-28.0 mm (n = 10) rather than 23.0 mm (n = 1); (2) olive-green rather than orange markings on the head and thorax; (3) blue-white apical 75-80 % of the anterior face of the hind tibiae and apical 0-30 % of the mid tibiae, rather than yellow-white apical 80 % of the front and mid tibiae; and (4) yellow dorsum of S10 contrasting with red on S2-9. Chlorocypha species often have white and sometimes yellow streaks on both the mid and hind tibiae, and sometimes on the fore tibiae as well, but both their presence and absence on only the hind pair is unusual, as is their apical rather than basal position. [Adapted from Dijkstra, Kipping & Mézière 2015]

Habitat description

Streams shaded by forest, but sometimes in clearings. Mostly with a sandy but often also a gravelly bottom, and often with dead trunks or branches and probably submerged roots and coarse detritus. From 400 to 800 m above sea level.

Distribution

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

• Dijkstra, K.-D.B., Mézière, N., and Kipping, J. (2015). Sixty new dragonfly and damselfly species from Africa (Odonata). Odonatologica, 44, 447-678.

Citation: Dijkstra, K.-D.B (editor). African Dragonflies and Damselflies Online. http://addo.adu.org.za/ [2024-11-15].