Ophiogomphus sinicus ( Chao 1954 )

Wilson, Keith Duncan Peter & Xu, Zaifu, 2009, Gomphidae of Guangdong & Hong Kong, China (Odonata: Anisoptera) 2177, Zootaxa 2177, pp. 1-62 : 46-48

Ophiogomphus sinicus ( Chao 1954)

Figs. 19 (d), 19(g), 24(a–h)

Onychogomphus sinicus: Chao 1954 : Chao (1954: 257, 264–266, figs 438–444, Fujian and Jiangxi); Asahina (1965: 499–500, Hong Kong); Sui & Sun (1984: 104–106, figs 68a–f, Fujian); Asahina (1988: 693–695, figs 17–22, Hong Kong); Matsuki (1989: 30–31, larva, Hong Kong); Matsuki et al. (1990: 15–16, Hong Kong).

Ophiogomphus sinicus ( Chao 1954) : Chao (1990: 383, 390–391, 7 figs, Fujian and Jiangxi); Wilson (1995a: 115, 121, 123, photo ♂, Hong Kong); Wilson (1995b: 332, Hong Kong); Saito & Ogata (1995: 33–34, figs 53–54, Hong Kong); Wilson (1997a: 33, Hong Kong); Zhang (1999: 251–252, figs 24.80a–g, Fujian, Hong Kong, Jiangxi); Hua (2000: 12, Fujian, Guangxi, Hainan, Hong Kong, Hunan & Jiangxi); Wilson (2003: 240–241, photos ♂, Hong Kong); Fellowes et al. (2003c: 19, Guangdong: Shimentai); Chan et al. (2004a: 19, Sanyue, Guangdong); Wilson (2005: 141, Guangxi).

Lamelligomphus sp. : Wilson (2005: 135, Figs 16a–c, ♀, Dawangling , Guangxi).

Specimens: 2 ♂, Pengshan (Dadingshan), 1 vii 2000, coll. KW; 1 ♂, Longtanjiao, 3 vii 2000, coll. KW; 1 ♂, Shimentai, 13 viii 2000, leg. ML ; 1 ♂ (No. 22531), Yunjishan, 9 vi 2002, coll. ZX; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Gudoushan, 26 vii 2002, leg. ML ; 1 ♂, Shimentai, 6 viii 2003, coll. KW; 1 ♀, Nankunshan, 8 viii 2006, coll. MB .

Remarks: Chao originally described sinicus in the genus Onychogomphus but later Chao (1990) placed it in the subgenus Ophiogomphus ( Ophionurus) . The posterior hamulus of sinicus is elongate and hook-like ( Figs. 19g & 24d) conforming to Carle's (1986) characterisation of the subgenus Ophiogomphus ( Ophionurus) . The general structure of male and female sinicus from Guidongshan, Guangdong is illustrated in Figs. 24a–h. The type species of Ophionurus is alleghaniensis Carle 1982 from USA ( West Virginia). According to Carle (1986) the genus Onychogomphus is not represented in India or China and apart from sinicus all other representatives of the subgenus Ophiogomphus ( Ophionurus) are restricted to North America. North American Ophiogomphus have a predominantly green synthorax with broad green dorsal stripes, stout abdomens and possess relatively short and stout caudal appendages ( Needham et al 2000). They bear a strong resemblance to Asian Nihonogomphus in general appearance. Indeed, Needham (1940) considered Nihonogomphus to be a synonym of Ophiogomphus . But Chao (1999) has now pointed out a number of characters featured in Nihonogomphus , which clearly show the genus is quite distinct from Ophiogomphus . Based on general appearance of sinicus and by comparing with N. American members of the subgenus Ophiogomphus ( Ophionurus) the taxonomic position of sinicus within this subgenus is highly improbable and its true affinity remains uncertain. The type species for the genus Ophiogomphus sensu stricto is Ophiogomphus cecilia (Fourcroy) , which was described from Europe and is also known from China.

The triangular-shaped, slightly flattened horns arising from the female occipital margin of Ophiogomphus sinicus have not previously been illustrated ( Figs. 24f–h), at least knowlingly. The illustration of the frontal face of Lamelligomphus sp. ( Fig. 16a) provided in Wilson (2005) is that of Onychogomphus sinicus . The anteclypeus in this illustration should have been coloured yellow and not black as depicted. The occipital horns of sinicus resemble Lamelligomphus tutulus Liu & Chao 1990 (cf Fig. 17d) but they are not quite as broad nor are they divergent from their mid-point.

Distribution: China ( Fujian, Guangxi, Hong Kong, Hainan, Hunan & Jiangxi).