Gomphus kinzelbachi, Schneider, 1984

Schneider, Thomas, Schneider, Elias, Ikemeyer, Dietmar, Seidenbusch, Richard & Müller, Ole, 2017, Description of last instar larva of Gomphus kinzelbachi Schneider, 1984 and new aspects on distribution and habitats in Iran (Odonata: Gomphinae), Zootaxa 4365 (4), pp. 455-466 : 457-460

Populations of Gomphus kinzelbachi in Iran and characterization of the habitats

Adults of G. kinzelbachi were observed at several sections of the Marun, Zoreh, and Dalaki rivers, but not at the lower section of the Mond River ( Table 2; Figs. 4 , 5 ). At one location at the Marun River a tandem between a male of G. kinzelbachi and a female of Onychogomphus flexuosus (Schneider, 1845) was observed over 5 minutes and finally captured. During our trip at the end of June, males and females were detected on the Alwand River in Kermãnshãh not far from the type locality ( Schneider 1984) nearby in Iraq. This population was at the peak of the flight period, all specimens with intact wings. One female was found on Abi Zinkan River in the Kordish Mountains (River near Salas Babajani, Table 2) in Kermãnshãh. Further search on rivers in Kordestãn and Azarbãyejãn–e–Garbi revealed no additional populations.

number of males females comment

location

(see Table 1)

6 no 1 mature northernmost record in Iran so far,

probably N–distribution border of G. kinzelbachi in Iran, female with intact wings, peak of flight period 8 15 mature 3 mature specimens with intact wings, peak of flight period, close to type locality ( Sage 1960, Schneider 1984) 11 1 mature 2 mature specimens with intact wings, peak of flight period, tandem between male of G. kinzelbachi and female of Onychogomphus flexuosus

12 3 mature 2 mature specimens with intact wings, peak of flight period 13 21 mature 24 mature old specimens with damaged wings, high abundance, end of flight period

15 2 immature 2 immature 8 larvae/exuviae with emergence 17 2 immature 2 immature beginning of flight period

18 2 immature 1 mature beginning of flight period, oviposition observed

Gomphus kinzelbachi showed a broad range of habitat usage from mountain brooks to broad lowland rivers ( Fig. 5 ). However, it was observed only at sections with alluvial forest or dense large reeds along the rivers. It was only observed on undammed free–flowing clean water sections of the rivers.

The distribution of G. kinzelbachi in Iran is restricted to the Southwest, including the provinces Khuzestãn, Lorestãn, Kermãnshãh, and Fãrs ( Table 2; Fig. 5 ). This species was not found farther east in the provinces of Bushehr, Kermãn, and Hormozgãn or farther north in the provinces Kordistãn and Azarbãyejãn–e–Garbi.

The following co–occuring Odonata species were observed with G. kinzelbachi : Calopteryx splendens intermedia Selys, 1887 , Epallage fatime (Charpentier, 1840) , Platycnemis dealbata Selys, 1850 , Erythromma lindenii zernyi Schmidt, 1938 , Ischnura fountaineae Morton, 1905 , Onychogomphus flexuosus , O. lefebvrii (Rambur, 1842) , Trithemis kirbyi Selys, 1891 , T. festiva (Rambur, 1842) , Orthetrum coerulescens anceps (Schneider, 1845) , and Crocothemis servilia (Drury, 1770) .

Figures

FIGURE 4. Occurrence of Gomphus kinzelbachi in SW Iran. Red dots: new locations in this report. For location numbers see Tables 1 and2. Black dots: locations reported for Karkeh River in 2016 (Schneider et al. 2017).Open circles are older records: A:Lohmann (1992), B: Martin (1912), C: Sadeghi & Mohammadalizadeh(2009).

FIGURE 5. Habitats of Gomphus kinzelbachi in Iran. A: Zohreh River (loc. 15),B: Shiv River (loc. 17), C: Marun River (loc. 11), D:Zohreh River (loc.13),E: Alwand River (loc. 8), F: Abi Zinkan (loc. 6). For locations see Table 1 and 2.Photos ES (A, B,C, D) and DI (E, F).