Ceratogomphus pictus

Ceratogomphus pictus, the common thorntail is a species of dragonfly in the family Gomphidae. It is found in Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe and possibly the Democratic Republic of Congo (one isolated record from Katanga[2]). Its natural habitats are the edges of large pools and slow-flowing streams.[1]

Ceratogomphus pictus
Male

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Odonata
Family:
Gomphidae
Genus:
Ceratogomphus
Species:
C. pictus
Binomial name
Ceratogomphus pictus
Hagen in Selys, 1854

This dragonfly is 46–53 mm long, with a wingspan of 60–69 mm.[3] The face is yellow with black bands and the eyes are greyish blue. The synthorax has broad grey and greenish-yellow stripes bordered by thin black lines. Segments 1-7 of the abdomen have broken black and yellow rings, and segment 8 has large yellow foliations with black edges. Segment 10 has a sharp, forward-pointing spine that extends over the top of segment 9.[4]

Female common thorntail

References
  1. Clausnitzer, V.; Suhling, F. (2010). "Ceratogomphus pictus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
  2. Dijkstra, K.-D.B.; Clausnitzer, V. (2014). The dragonflies and damselflies of eastern Africa. Tervuren: Royal Museum for Central Africa. ISBN 978-94-916-1506-1.
  3. Tarboton, Warwick & Michèle (2002). A fieldguide to the dragonflies of South Africa. South Africa: Warwick & Michèle Tarboton. ISBN 0620298871.
  4. Samways, Michael J. (2008). Dragonflies and damselflies of South Africa (1st ed.). Sofia: Pensoft. ISBN 9789546423306.
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