Syncordulia gracilis (Burmeister)

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 : 22-23

Syncordulia gracilis (Burmeister) — ‘Yellow Presba’

Figs 1 , 5 , 9 , 13 , 17–18 .

Epophthalmia gracilis Burmeister, 1839: 847 . Holotype ♂: origin unknown (MCZ) [not examined, but diagnosed in detail by Lieftinck (1961: 414)].

Oxygastra gracilis ( Burmeister, 1839) – Selys-Longchamps (1871: 307 bulletin, 73 reprint).

Gomphomacromia (Syncordulia) gracilis ( Burmeister, 1839) – Selys-Longchamps (1882: clxviii).

Syncordulia gracilis ( Burmeister, 1839) – Kirby (1890: 52).

Presba piscator Barnard, 1933: 168 . Lectotype ♂ (designated by Kimmins 1968: 299): Cape Province, Groot Drakenstein, xii.1931, A.C. Harrison (BMNH) [examined]; junior synonym – Lieftinck (1961: 410).

Chlorosoma gracilis ( Burmeister, 1839) – Anonymous, in litt. in Lieftinck (1961: 414).

Further material: 1 ď, Natal, Cat[h]kin Peak, 5.x.1948, Dr. H.A. Newton ( NMBZ); 1 Ψ, Cape Province, Ouderbosch [= Oubos], near Rivier Zonderend [= Riviersonderend], 15.xii.1968, C.G.C. Dickson ( NMBZ); 1 Ψ, Cape Province, Matroosberg, 16.xii.1975, Neville Duke ( NMBZ); 5 ď, 3 Ψ, Bain’s Kloof, N. of Stellenbosch, 1–6.xii.1987, D.A.L. Davies ( CUMZ); 1 ď, Du Toit’s Kloof, N. of Stellenbosch, 1.xii.1987, D.A.L. Davies ( RMNH); 1 ď, Western Cape, Bontebok National Park, rest camp at Breede River, 9.xi.1997, D. Paulson (Coll. D. Paulson); 1 Ψ, Eastern Cape, Prentjiesberg, Mooirivier, 10.xi.2000, M.J. Samways and R. Kinvig ( SUEC); 7 ď, Kogelberg Nature Reserve, Oudeboschrivier, 18.xi.2000, M.J. Samways ( SUEC); 1 Ψ, Kogelberg Nature Reserve, hawking over fynbos, date unknown, P.B.C. Grant (Coll. M. May).

Observations: 1 ď, Kogelberg Nature Reserve, Palmiet River, 16.xi.2000, M.J. Samways; 1 Ψ, Kogelberg Nature Reserve, Oudeboschrivier, 2.i.2002, M.J. Samways.

Unverified records: larval exuviae (cannot be identified to species), Ceres, iii.1922, K.H. Barnard (Barnard 1937; not found in SAMC); larval exuviae (cannot be identified to species), Bain’s Kloof, Wellington Mts, Breede River side, v.1933, K.H. Barnard (Barnard 1937; SAMC).

Range and ecology. This species has a greater extent of occurrence than other Syncordulia ( Fig. 17 ), but the area of occupancy is relatively small. In the Western Cape it is restricted to the south-western mountains, but is fairly widespread there ( Fig. 18 ), while single locations in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal are the only ones of the genus outside the Western Cape. This disjunct distribution suggests that the species’s area of occupancy was once much greater. Details of adult activity in the Western Cape are given by Samways & Grant (2007), with the first individuals appearing in October, a peak in November and December, and rapid decline in January. At least in the Western Cape, S. gracilis is distinctly a fynbos species, associated with small, rapid, stony-bottomed streams and rivers. In the Eastern Cape, it is known from streams with solid rocky bottoms. Adults typically remain away from water, hawking over low bushes.

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.