Metaleptobasis Calvert, 1907

Mauffray, William F. & Tennessen, Kenneth J., 2019, A Catalogue and Historical Study of the Odonata of Ecuador, Zootaxa 4628 (1), pp. 1-265 : 52-54

Metaleptobasis Calvert, 1907

This genus was recently revised by von Ellenrieder (2013b) who added 18 new species. Eight of the 31 species are known to occur in Ecuador, and it is likely that others will be discovered as they are secretive forest dwellers quite easily overlooked. The exact habitat is unknown as the nymph of none of the species in this large genus has been found. Adults are quite distinctive, having an orange thorax with a dark (often metallic green) mid-dorsal stripe and mostly black abdomen ( Fig. 24 ); they perch on twigs or leaf tips in deep shade and usually fly only upon disturbance.

Metaleptobasis gibbosa Tennessen, 2012 . Publ. Recs. ECU: (H14); PA, Mera: * Tennessen (2012a — Holotype ♂: Mera, between Mera and Shell, Los Copales, trails and forest wetlands (-1.4919, -78.0725, 1070m), 22 ix 2005, leg. & det. KJT [FSCA]; 1 paratype ♂, same data but leg. JJD [FSCA]; 1 paratype ♂, same data but leg. WFM [FSCA]; Allotype ♀: same data but 20 ix 2005 [FSCA]).

Addl. Data. PA, Mera: 1 ♂, same data as holotype except leg. WFM [LSAM].

Note: Apparently endemic. Type specimens were found near a small, partially shaded seepage pool at the edge of the forest at Los Copales, with very little water. Adults perched low on stems along a path, but when disturbed flew high toward the overhanging bushes ( Tennessen 2012a). Upon return to Los Copales in 2012, it was discovered that the type locality had been cut over and houses built in the area.

Metaleptobasis knopfi Tennessen, 2012 . Publ. Recs. ECU: (H14); NA, El Chaco: * Tennessen (2012a — as “ Sucumbíos ”, Holotype and Allotype plus 7 paratype ♂♂, Baeza-Lago Agrío road, 52 km NE Chaco, swamp, forest and stream (-0.0011, -77.4019, 685m), 18 viii 1980, leg. KWK (FSCA); 3 paratype males, same data but leg. SWD [FSCA]; Tena: 1 paratype male, pond along Río Sinde, about 5 km E of Puerto Napo bridge (-1.0517, -77.7544, 450m), 12 xi 1997, leg. KJT [FSCA], von Ellenrieder (2013b); S U, Shushufindi: 1 paratype female, forest S of Limoncocha (-0.4203, -76.6108, 250m), 11 v 2009, leg. KJT [FSCA]; NVE (2013). Also from COL: ( P16 ).

Metaleptobasis lillianae Daigle, 2003 . Publ. Recs. ECU: (H14); SU, Shushifindi: Limoncocha, left or S fork of nature trail in forest (-0.24, -76.36, 243m), 25 viii 1980, leg. SWD, det. NVE [RWG]. Also BOL, BRA, PER: (von Ellenrieder 2013).

Metaleptobasis mauffrayi Daigle, 2000 . Publ. Recs. ECU: (H08), (P11), (H14). OR: * Daigle (2000 — Holotype: as “ Napo ” P.N.Y., ditch on road PC 29-30 about 3.2 km from main road junction, 18 vi 1996, leg. JJD [FSCA]; Allotype: as “ NA ”, forest pool on main road, 3.6 km N of Yasuni Biological Research Station , 16 xi 1997, leg. KJT [FSCA]); NVE (2013); SU: * Daigle (2000 — as “ Napo ”), von Ellenrieder (2013b). Also PER: Daigle (2000), (H08), (P11) plus COL: von Ellenrieder (2013b).

Addl. Data. MS, Morona: [RWG]; NA, Tena: [ACRP, FSCA, KJT, RWG,); OR, Francisco de Orellana: (ACR, ACRP, FSCA, JJD, KJT, NVE, RWG, SWD, TWD, USNM]; Loreto: [KJT, FSCA]; La Joya de los Sachas: [KJT]; SU, Shushufindi: [FSCA, KJT, RWG, SWD, SWD].

Note: Seems to be the most abundant and widespread species of Metaleptobasis in Ecuador.

Metaleptobasis minteri Daigle, 2003 . Publ. Recs. ECU: (H08), (P11), (H14); MS: NVE (2013); OR: * Daigle (2003 — Holotype & Allotype: as “ NA ”, Limoncocha [across Río Napo from], [La Nueva Esperanza], Primavera, Río Napo, at Lake Taracoa (-0.45, -76.77, 243m), 26 viii 1978, leg. KWK [FSCA], von Ellenrieder (2013b); SU: von Ellenrieder (2013b). Also BRA, PER: von Ellenrieder (2013b); plus COL: Palacino et al. (2017).

Addl. Data. MS, Morona: 2 ♂♂, Cusuimi, Río Cusuimi, 150 km SE of Puyo (-2.7225, -77.6753, 320m), 15 vi 1971, leg. B. Malkin & B. Yuma, det. NVE, data provided by RWG [NMNHL]; OR, Francisco de Orellana: 1 cop. pair, 1 paratype ♂, Limoncocha [across Río Napo from], [La Nueva Esperanza], primavera, Río Napo, at Lake Taracoa (-0.45, -76.77, 243m), 26 viii 1978, leg. KWK, det. JJD [FAL, FSCA]; 4 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, same data but 27 vii 1977, leg. DRP & S. Hills, det. NVE [DRP]; 1 tan. pair, 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, same data but leg. & det. SWD, det. WFM [SWD]; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, [Pompeya Sur], S on [Pompeya Sur-Iro road] at km marker 31, borrow pit near Río Sabaleto (- 0.6569, -76.4528, 216m), 12 vi 1995, leg. SWD, det. WFM [SWD]; La Joya de los Sachas : 1 ♀, ditch, Pompaya, 0.5 km N of Río Napo ferry, 19 vii 1996, leg. & det. KJT [FSCA]; SU, Lago Agrio: 1 ♂, Lago Agrio, 7 km W on Hwy. 45, swamp & stream, 8 vi 1995, leg. SWD, det. WFM [SWD]; Shushufindi: 1 ♂, Limoncocha , 23 viii 1980, leg. SWD, det. WFM [SWD]; 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Limoncocha , lakeshore and nearby areas, (-0.4000, -76.6167, 269m), 23 viii 1980, leg. KWK, det. JJD [FSCA]; 1 ♂, [Limoncocha] [about 40 km E] or 100 km E of Coca [on Río Napo], Lago Garzacocha, La Selva Jungle Lodge (-0.4819, -76.3733, 235m), 12 x 1988, leg. SWD, det. WFM [SWD]; 1 ♀, forest S of Limoncocha (-0.4203, -76.6108, 250m), 11 v 2009, leg. & det. KJT [FSCA].

Metaleptobasis orthogonia von Ellenrieder, 2013 . Publ. Recs. ECU: (H14); OR: von Ellenrieder (2013b) — paratype ♀, Río Shiripuno , Shiripuno Lodge, 26 km SE of Shiripuno bridge (-1.1047, -76.7317, 235m), 23–26 i 2009, leg. D Wagner, det. NVE (UCMS); SU: 1 paratype ♀, Río Cuyabeno , 60 km E Lago Agrío (-0.0317, -76.3208, 241m), 16–26 ii 1998, leg. G. Kareofelas, det. NVE [RWG]). Also PER: von Ellenrieder (2013b).

Addl. Data. OR: Estacion Cientifica Yasuni , Río Tiputini, 39 km SE of Pompeya, 61 km ESE of Coca (-0.674, -76.397, 210m), no date provided, data provided by WAH & DLW.

Metaleptobasis prostrata von Ellenrieder, 2013 . Publ. Recs. ECU: (H14); * SU: von Ellenrieder (2013b) — paratype teneral ♂, swamp-stream, 7 km W of Lago Agrío (0.0833, -76.9833, 280m), 8 vi 1995, leg. SWD. det. NVE [RWG]. Also PER: von Ellenrieder (2013b).

Metaleptobasis spatulata von Ellenrieder, 2013 . *MS, OR, SU all by von Ellenrieder (2013b). Also BRA, PER: von Ellenrieder (2013b).

Figures

FIGURE 24. Metaleptobasis mauffrayi ♂, ECUADOR, Orellana Province, forest pond 12 km N of Loreto, 3 xi 2013; photo K. J. Tennessen.