Pseudagrion aureolum Dijkstra, Mézière & Kipping, 2015

Dijkstra, Klaas-Douwe B., Kipping, Jens & Mézière, Nicolas, 2015, Sixty new dragonfly and damselfly species from Africa (Odonata), Odonatologica 44 (4), pp. 447-678 : 520-524

Pseudagrion aureolum Dijkstra, Mézière & Kipping sp. nov. – Nugget Sprite

(Type Photo 18, Photos 26 –28, 52, 62, Fig. 12)

Taxonomy

Genetically, morphologically and ecologically unlike any other species of the B-group of Pseudagrion Selys, 1876 (see Dijkstra et al. 2007).

Material studied

Holotype ♂. Gabon, Haut-Ogooué Province, Batéké Plateau, road to Léconi Park, Laboumi River , sandy stream (4–6 m), 445 m a.s.l. (1.5232 ° S 14.2906 ° E), 30 -xii- 2008, leg. N. Mézière, RMNH .

Further material. GABON (Haut-Ogooué Province): 2 ♂, as holotype, RMNH . 1 ♂, locality as holotype, 04-vii- 2009, leg. N. Mézière, RMNH . 2 ♂, Franceville-Kessala Road, Kessala , Mpassa , large sandy river (> 20 m wide), 410 m a.s.l. (1.8958 ° S 13.8975 ° E), 09-xi- 2009, leg. N. Mézière, RMNH . 1 ♂, Lac aux Caïmans, Léconi , large lake with swamps and pools, 460 m a.s.l. (1.6533 ° S 14.2763 ° E), 06-ii- 2010, leg. N. Mézière, RMNH . 1 ♂, same locality, 13 -ix- 2010, leg. N. Mézière, RMNH . 2 ♂ ♀ ( RMNH.INS.503281 , RMNH.INS.503282 ), 5 km after Bongoville towards Léconi, Andzaba River, Ekala , sandy and swampy stream ( Photo 62), 389 m a.s.l. (1.6319 ° S 13.8887 ° E), 28 - iii- 2010, leg. N. Mézière & J. Renoult, RMNH . 1 ♂ 2 ♂ ♀, Bongoville-Léconi road after Ekala, old village of Boubou , stream (2 m wide) with gravel bottom ( Photo 52), 393 m a.s.l. (1.6114 ° S 13.9105 ° E), 20 -ix- 2009, leg. N. Mézière, RMNH . 2 ♂, Léconi road, Souba , lake in grassland, 428 m a.s.l. (1.5767 ° S 14.0492 ° E), 27 -xii- 2010, leg. N. Mézière, RMNH. 1 ♂ ( RMNH.INS.508773 ), same locality, 09-iii- 2013, leg. N. Mézière, RMNH . 1 ♂ 2 ♂ ♀, Léconi, Les Eaux Claires, Laboumi River , small sandy river (4–6 m) with gallery forest in savanna,, and associated swamp and pools, 446 m a.s.l. (1.5753 ° S 14.2014 ° E), 29 -xii- 2009, leg. K.- D.B. Dijkstra, N. Mézière & C. Vanappelghem, RMNH . 2 ♂, same locality, 04-vii- 2009, leg. N. Mézière, RMNH . 1 ♂ ( RMNH.INS.502420 ), same locality, 20 -ix- 2009, leg. N. Mézière, RMNH . 2 ♂ ( RMNH.INS.503367 ), 50 km N of Franceville, Franceville-Okondja Road, Léconi River at bridge N of Onvouri-Olounga , large sandy river, 307 m a.s.l. (1.1776 ° S 13.5389 ° E), 10 -i- 2010, leg. K.- D.B. Dijkstra, N. Mézière & C. Vanappelghem, RMNH . 1 ♂, 34 km E of Franceville, Franceville-Léconi road, NE of Bongoville, small streams at forest edge, 417m a.s.l. (1.6131 ° S 13.9056 ° E), 31 -xii- 2009, leg. K.- D.B. Dijkstra, RMNH . 1 ♂ ( RMNH.INS.508800 ), Batéké Plateau, Parc de la SPB, Ekala 2, Léconi Valley , forest pond with much leaf litter, 420 m a.s.l. (1.3673 ° S 14.1463 ° E), 05-iv- 2013, leg. N. Mézière, RMNH . 1 ♂, Akieni , sandy stream (4–6 m), 474 m a.s.l. (1.1708 ° S 13.8740 ° E), 07-ii- - 2009, leg. N. Mézière, RMNH . 1 ♂, Léconi, Léconi River near Léconi town , sandy river with gallery forest in savanna ( Photo 28), 484 m a.s.l. (1.5847 ° S 14.2450 ° E), 30 -xii- 2009, leg. N. Mézière & C. Vanappelghem, RMNH . 1 ♂, Batéké Plateau, Léconi, Léconi River , sandy stream (> 10 m wide), 527 m a.s.l. (1.5844 ° S 14.2443 ° E), 04-vii- 2009, leg. N. Mézière, RMNH . 7 ♂, Batéké Plateau, Laboumi River 7.5 km NE of Léconi , sandy river with very clear water in dense gallery forest, 446 m a.s.l. (1.5232 ° S 14.2906 ° E), 25 -i- 2012, leg. J. Kipping, CJKL . 1 ♂, Batéké Plateau, Léconi River 2 km W of Léconi , sandy river with very clear water in open landscape, 440 m a.s.l. (1.5844 ° S 14.2442 ° E), 28 -i- 2012, leg. J. Kipping, CJKL .

Genetics

Two unique haplotypes (n = 7) are well-separated from but nearest to P.glaucescens Selys, 1876 and P. isidromorai Compte Sart, 1967 .

Male morphological diagnosis

Unlike any Pseudagrion of the B-group by the combination of (1) the small size, Hw 15.5–17.5 mm (n= 13); (2) the orange-yellow face and front of eyes; (3) the deep rufous back of the eyes, postocular spots and thorax, all almost devoid of black markings; and the male structures that are close to but distinct from those of its (genetically) nearest relatives, especially P. glaucescens : (4)the penis is simple and square-ended; (5) the cerci are somewhat longer than the simple paraprocts and have a distinctive though small subapical tooth on the lower flange, which creates a three-pointed tip in dorsal view ( Fig. 12).

Etymology

Latin “golden” refers to the rich colour of this species (neuter adjective).

Range and ecology

Open and clear streams, rivers and lakes between 300 and 550 m a.s.l. on the sandy Batéké Plateau in south-eastern Gabon ( Photos 26, 28). This is an unusual habitat for the B-group of Pseudagrion , which prefers warmer habitats such as sluggish rivers and ponds.