Eleuthemis buettikoferi Ris, 1910
Sunlight Firebelly

Type locality: Liberia, no locality data available.

Diagnosis

As this genus was long considered monotypic, most Eleuthemis records have long been assigned to this species. True E. buettikoferi occurs from Sierra Leone east at least to Ghana and the male has (1) a thick black border to the labrum; (2) Fw with darkened tip that just touches the distal end of Pt; (3) the vertex and occipital triangle blackened at least basally; (4) Fw discoidal field entirely of two or more rows of cells; (5) the abdomen dorsum entirely whitish pruinose with maturity; (6) the abdomen underside largely orange, at least S6-9 without black on the ventral carinae; (7) largely blackish secondary genitalia; and (8) an acute tip to the hook of the hamule. [Adapted from Dijkstra, Kipping & Mézière 2015]

Habitat description

Mostly rivers, but also streams, in open areas in forest. Often faster sections, usually with overhanging branches, submerged roots and probably dead trunks or branches and/or coarse detritus. From 0 to 600 m above sea level, but mostly below 500.

Distribution

confirmed: Gabon; Ghana; Guinee-Bissau; Liberia; Nigeria; Sierra Leone; NOT confirmed: Côte d'Ivoire; Cameroon; Congo-Brazzaville; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Equatorial Guinea; Mozambique; Republic of Guinea; Tanzania; Zambia


Male © KD Dijkstra


Male © KD Dijkstra


Abdominal segment 2 (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):


Adult, male; Gabon, Ogoué-Lolo, route Lastourville-Koulamoutou © Mézière, Nicolas, ANDRE GUENTHER,JENS KIPPING, HANNES KRAHNSTOEVER


Adult, male; Gabon, Ogoué-Lolo, route Lastourville-Koulamoutou © Mézière, Nicolas, ANDRE GUENTHER,JENS KIPPING, HANNES KRAHNSTOEVER


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


Male; Sierra Leone, Eastern Province, 7 km south of Kenema © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Male; Liberia, Grand Gedeh County, © Dijkstra, K.-D.B. & A. Dayeker


Male; Liberia, Grand Gedeh County, Putu Iron Ore Mining concession © Dijkstra, K.-D.B. & A. Dayeker


Male; Liberia, Grand Gedeh County, Putu Iron Ore Mining concession © Dijkstra, K.-D.B. & A. Dayeker

References

  • Ris, F. (1910). Libellulinen 3. Fasc. XI, in Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique, 11, 245-384.
  • Pinhey, E.C.G. (1961). Dragonflies (Odonata) of Central Africa. Occasional Papers Rhodes-Livingstone Museum, 14, 1-97. [PDF file]
  • Longfield, C. (1959). The Odonata of N. Angola. Part II. Publicacoes culturais Companhia Diamantes Angola, 45, 13-42. [PDF file]
  • Lieftinck, M.A. (1969). Odonates Anisoptères - Odonata Anisoptera. Explor. hydrob. Lac Bangweolo and Luapula, 14, 1-64. [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].