Pseudagrion sarepi Kipping & Dijkstra

Dijkstra, Klaas-Douwe B., Kipping, Jens & Mézière, Nicolas, 2015, Sixty new dragonfly and damselfly species from Africa (Odonata), Odonatologica 44 (4), pp. 447-678 : 532-534

Pseudagrion sarepi Kipping & Dijkstra sp. nov. – Sarep Sprite (Type Photo 22, Photos 33–34, Fig. 13)

Taxonomy

Genetically, morphologically, ecologically and geographically close to P.fisheri Pinhey, 1961 and P. greeni Pinhey, 1961 ; combines characters of both, but genetically distinct from them.

Material studied

Holotype ♂. Angola, Cuando-Cubango Province, Longa River, 82 km E of Menongue at road to Cuito Cuanavale , clear and sandy river in wide open valley ( Photo 34), 1326 m a.s.l. (14.6063 ° S 18.4673 ° E), 20 -v- 2012, leg. J. Kipping, RMNH .

Further material. ANGOLA (Cuando-Cubango Province): 1 ♂ 1 ♀, as holotype, RMNH . 4 ♂ 1 ♀, as holotype, CJKL . 1 ♂ ( RMNH.INS.507931 ), Cuito River, 9 km N of Cuito Cuanavale , large, clear and sandy river, 1187 m a.s.l. (15.0872 ° S 19.1497 ° E), 19 -v- 2012, leg. J. Kipping, RMNH . 4 ♂ 6 ♀, Luassingua River, 55 km E of Menongue at road to Cuito Cuanavale , clear and sandy river in wide open valley, 1326 m a.s.l. (14.5899 ° S 18.1705 ° E), 20 -v- - 2012, leg. J. Kipping, CJKL . 2 ♂ ( RMNH.INS.507940 , RMNH.INS.507941 ), same locality and date, leg. J. Kipping, RMNH .

Genetics Two unique haplotypes (n= 3) nearest to four of P. greeni (n= 8) and two of P. fisheri (n = 2). Male morphological diagnosis

Similar to P. fisheri and P. greeni by (a) the uniformly orange labrum; (b)the inner border of the cerci lacking a basal tooth or toothed flange in dorsal view; (c) the upper branch of cerci being longer than the lower; and (e) the paraprocts that are more than half as long as the cerci. However, (1) is distinctly smaller, Hw 18.0–21.0 mm (mean 19.2 mm; n = 10), compared to both P. fisheri (21.0– 23.5 mm; mean 22.3 mm; n= 14) and P. greeni (21.0–23.0 mm; mean 22.0 mm; n= 22); (2) with maturity the dorsa of the head and thorax are wholly dark, rather than with tiny postocular spots and continuous though narrow ante-humeral stripes as in both other species; (3) S 8–9 are dorsally wholly blue like in P. greeni , not entirely dark like all other segments as in P. fisheri ; and (4) the upper branch of the cerci is small and in lateral view reaches about as far as the rather deep lower branch as in P. fisheri , rather than being huge and reaching far beyond the small lower branch as in P. greeni ( Fig. 13).

Etymology

Named after the SAREP (Southern African Regional Environmental Program) field survey during which the species was discovered (neuter singular genitive noun).

Range and ecology

Like P. greeni and P. fisheri prefers clear, sandy and swift rivers in open landscapes. Perches low on overhanging grass or floating vegetation. Known from three sites between about 1 150 and 1 350 m a.s.l. in grassy valleys of the Bié highlands between Menongue and Cuito Cuanavale in southern Angola, but probably more widespread.