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).