Porpax risi Pinhey, 1958
Highland Pricklyleg

Type locality: Busi River, Zimbabwe

Diagnosis

Male shares with other species in genus (a) anterior side of hind femur and trochanter densely hairy, hairs about as long femur is wide; (b) Abd pruinose with maturity. However, unlike any of them (1) is restricted to highlands from Katanga to Angola and Mozambique; (2) labrum pale with black border; (3) pale band across frons complete; (4) interpleural stripe narrower than pale stripes bordering it; (5) costa and subcostal Ax pale; (6) when not covered by pruinosity, S3-9 with pale spots along dorsal carina, S6 without pale ring. [Adapted from Dijkstra & Clausnitzer 2014]

Habitat description

Standing waters in open landscapes. Usually boggy and with emergent and probably aquatic vegetation. From 900 to 2300 m above sea level, but possibly down to 500.

Distribution

confirmed: Angola; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Malawi; Mozambique; Zambia; Zimbabwe; NOT confirmed: Tanzania


Male © Jens Kipping


Abdominal segment 2 (lateral view)

Leg

Abdominal segments 1-4

Abdominal segment 6 (lateral view)

Thorax (lateral view)

Face (frontal view)

Postgenae (caudal view)

Map citation: Clausnitzer, V., K.-D.B. Dijkstra, R. Koch, J.-P. Boudot, W.R.T. Darwall, J. Kipping, B. Samraoui, M.J. Samways, J.P. Simaika & F. Suhling, 2012. Focus on African Freshwaters: hotspots of dragonfly diversity and conservation concern. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 10: 129-134.


Barcode specimen(s):


Adult, male; Zimbabwe, Manicaland, Chimanimani National Park © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Adult, male; Zimbabwe, Manicaland, Chimanimani National Park © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Female; Democratic Republic of Congo, Katanga, Upemba National Park © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Male; Democratic Republic of Congo, Katanga, Upemba National Park © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Male; Democratic Republic of Congo, Katanga, Upemba National Park © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Female; Democratic Republic of Congo, Katanga, Upemba National Park © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Adult, male; Angola, Uige Province, Negage © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Adult, male; Zimbabwe, Manicaland, Vumba Mts © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.


Adult, male; Zimbabwe, Manicaland, Vumba Mts © Dijkstra, K.-D.B.

References

  • Pinhey, E.C.G. (1958). Records of dragonflies from the Zambezi and Rhodesia; a revision of the genus Platycypha; a gynandromorph dragonfly from Uganda. Occasional Papers National Museum Southern Rhodesia, 22, 97-116. [PDF file]
  • Lieftinck, M.A. (1969). Odonates Anisoptères - Odonata Anisoptera. Explor. hydrob. Lac Bangweolo and Luapula, 14, 1-64. [PDF file]
  • Dijkstra, K.-D.B. (2006). Taxonomy and biogeography of Porpax, a dragonfly genus centred in the Congo Basin (Odonata, Libellulidae) Tijdschrift Entomologie, 149, 71-88. [PDF file]

Citation: Dijkstra, K.-D.B (editor). African Dragonflies and Damselflies Online. http://addo.adu.org.za/ [2024-03-28].