Syncordulia legator, Dijkstra, Klaas-Douwe B., Samways, Michael J. & Simaika, John P., 2007

Dijkstra, Klaas-Douwe B., Samways, Michael J. & Simaika, John P., 2007, Two new relict Syncordulia species found during museum and field studies of threatened dragonflies in the Cape Floristic Region (Odonata: Corduliidae), Zootaxa 1467, pp. 19-34 : 23-25

Syncordulia legator n. sp. — ‘Gilded Presba’

Figs 2 , 6 , 10 , 14 , 19 .

Type material: Holotype ď, paratype Ψ, Cape Province, Fransc[h]hoek Pass, 20.xi.1975, Neville Duke ( NMBZ).

Further material: 1 ď, 1 Ψ (paratypes venator ), Cape Province, French Hoek [= Franschhoek], 8.x.1933, K.H. Barnard ( RMNH); 1 ď Hott[entots] Holl[and] Mts, Steenbras, xi.1932, K.H. Barnard ( SAMC); 1 ď, W. Cape Province, Clanwilliam, 17.ix.1977, Neville Duke ( NMBZ); 2 ď, 1 Ψ, Cape Prov., Hawekwasberg [= Hawequas Mts], Du Toit’s Kloof, 5.xi.1977, Neville Duke ( NMBZ); 1 Ψ, SW Cape, upper reaches of the Palmiet River (19°25’E 34°34’S), 20.xii.1992, leg. unknown ( SUEC); 3 Ψ Western Cape Province, Franschhoek Pass, lower Du Toit’s River, 18.x.2006, M.J. Samways and J.P. Simaika ( SUEC).

Description. Holotype male. Measurements (mm): total length: 49.4, abdomen length (excluding appendages): 34.7, Fw length: 32.3, Hw length: 30.9, Fw Pt: 3.0. Head brownish yellow, darkened at base of labrum, centres of postclypeus and antefrons, dorsum of vertex and lateral corners of occipital triangle; postgenae with two smudged dark bars near excision of eye margin. Anterior and dorsal surfaces of head covered with dense black hairs, posterior surfaces with longer but equally dense pale hairs. Thorax glossy dark brown, broadly but indistinctly black on humeral, metapleural and ventral part of interpleural sutures; middorsal carina contrasting pale brown-yellow. Thorax densely covered with pale long hairs, especially long on mesepisternum. Legs black, pale keels present on anterior face of slightly more than apical half of fore and middle tibiae, and just over three-quarters of hind tibiae. Venation and Pt blackish, more basal Ax brown. In contrast, dorsal sclerites at base of costa of all four wings (the ‘intermediary’ or ‘distal costal’ plates) pale yellow. Wings clear, very faintly smoky towards tips. Membranule pale grey, slightly darker on outer-posterior border. Venation typical of genus. 8 Ax in both Fw, 5 in Hw; 6 Px in Fw, 7 in Hw; anal loops of 7 cells. Abdomen slightly clubbed, brown-yellow, marked with black as in Fig. 2 , ventral border of tergites narrowly pale yellow (broadest on border of genital fossa), contrasting with black sides. Sternites black. Appendages black, save yellow spot at base of cerci, shaped as in Fig. 10 ; in lateral view, cerci straighter and epiproct shorter than in S. venator (epiproct 40–47% as long as cerci vs 50–56%). Secondary genitalia as in Fig. 6 . Hamules deeply folded longitudinally, their borders concealed behind border of genital fossa. Anterior half of hamule black, posterior half pale yellow. Ventral borders of tergite of S1 posteriorly drawn out into elongate processes: this pair of ventral spikes reaching about 20% of distance from base of S2 to tip of genital lobe (about 40% in S. venator ). Profile of genital fossa (lateral view) straighter than in S. venator .

Paratype female. Measurements (mm): total length: 48.9, abdomen length (excluding appendages): 35.5, Fw length: 33.5, Hw length: 32.0, Fw Pt: 3.0. Heavier than holotype with straight-sided abdomen, but coloration similar. All wings lightly but distinctly yellow in subcostal and cubital spaces, approximately to Ax2 and Cux1, and faintly smoky anteriorly from base to tip. 8 Ax in both Fw, 5 in Hw; 6 Px in Fw, 7–8 in Hw; anal loops of 11 cells. Vulvar scale appressed, black, as in Fig. 14 with distinct finger-like lateral extensions. Cerci black, slender with pointed tips, about twice as long as S10 and paraprocts (clearly longer than in S. venator ).

Variation. Coloration rather consistent, but may be darker than in Fig. 2 and wings are tinged deeper in younger specimens. Size variation is considerable, as in S. venator . Males (n = 5): abdomen length (excluding appendages): 31.1–34.7 mm, Hw 27.4–32.5 mm, Fw 7–8 Ax and 5–7 Px, anal loop of 6–9 cells. Females (n = 5): abdomen length (excluding appendages): 32.0– 35.7 mm, Hw 31.6–33.2 mm, Fw 7–8 Ax and 5–6 Px, anal loop of 10–11 cells.

Range and ecology. This species has been recorded from the Cederberg and the Hawequas and Hottentots-Holland Mountains ( Fig. 19 ). It is associated with tree-lined streams with distinct deposition zone pools. It flies swiftly up and down streams, over boulders and pools, and over fynbos. It has been recorded from September, earlier than any other Syncordulia , to December.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 4. Syncordulia male abdomen in dorsal (above) and lateral (below) view. (1) S. gracilis; (2) S. legator n. sp.; (3) S. venator; (4) S. serendipator n. sp.

FIGURES 5 – 8. Syncordulia male secondary genitalia in lateral view. The penis is indicated by dotted lines, as its position is variable. (5) S. gracilis; (6) S. legator n. sp.; (7) S. venator; (8) S. serendipator n. sp.

FIGURES 9 – 12. Syncordulia male appendages in dorsal (left), lateral (right) and ventral (S. serendipator n. sp. only) view. (9) S. gracilis; (10) S. legator n. sp.; (11) S. venator; (12) S. serendipator n. sp.

FIGURES 13 – 16. Syncordulia female abdomen tip in lateral (left) and ventral (right) view. (13) S. gracilis; (14) S. legator n. sp.; (15) S. venator; (16) S. serendipator n. sp.

FIGURES 17 – 21. Geographical distribution of Syncordulia species in South Africa (17) and the Western Cape (18 – 21). Legend: solid circles: verified records; dotted circles: observations; crossed circles: unverified records. (17 – 18) S. gracilis; (19) S. legator n. sp.; (20) S. venator; (21) S. serendipator n. sp.