Copera sikassoensis (Martin, 1912)
Little Featherleg

Synonyms:

  • scientific: Platycnemis sikassoensis

Type locality: Sikasso, Mali

Diagnosis

Male differs from other African Copera species by (a) favouring sunny rivers and streams, rather than shaded forest pools and streams; (b) smaller size, Hw 14-17 mm; (c) legs uniformly orange, rather than yellow to rufous and often darkened at joints; (d) subapical pale rings of S3-7 reduced, abdomen appearing dark, rather than pale basal and subapical rings giving abdomen an annulated effect; (e) branches of cerci short, usually only visible in caudal view, rather than long and well-visible in lateral and dorsal view.

Habitat description

Mostly rivers, but also streams, in open areas in forest, but sometimes shaded by gallery forest. Often with a sandy, soft (like muddy) and/or probably gravelly bottom. From 0 to 800 m above sea level, but mostly below 400, although possibly up to 1300.

Distribution

confirmed: Benin; Côte d'Ivoire; Central African Republic; Gambia; Ghana; Liberia; Mali; Nigeria; Republic of Guinea; Sierra Leone; Togo; Uganda; NOT confirmed: Guinee-Bissau; Senegal


© Ben Phalan


Appendages (dorsal view)

Appendages (lateral view)

Thorax (lateral view)

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):


Male; Liberia, Nimba County, Yekepa © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.

References

  • Martin, R. (1912). Les libellules du cercle de Sikasso. Feuille jeunes Naturalistes, 42, 92-99. [PDF file]
  • Pinhey, E.C.G. (1964). Some new Odonata from West Africa. Bulletin Institut francais Afrique, 26, 1144-1153. [PDF file]
  • Pinhey, E.C.G. (1971). Odonata collected in Republique Centre-Africaine by R. Pujol. Arnoldia, 5, 1-16. [PDF file]

Citation: Dijkstra, K.-D.B (editor). African Dragonflies and Damselflies Online. http://addo.adu.org.za/ [2024-03-19].