Notogomphus bosumbuli 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 : 564-568

Notogomphus bosumbuli Dijkstra sp. nov. – Congo Longleg (Type Photo 31, Photos 40, 45, Figs 18, 19)

Taxonomy

The genus Notogomphus Selys, 1858 is typically associated with highlands and this is the first species to be found in the central Congo Basin ( Map 8). Although not all potentially close relatives are available for genetic comparison, it is distinct, also in morphology, and has already been treated as such by Dijkstra & Clausnitzer (2014).

Material studied

Holotype ♂. RMNH.INS.502416 , Congo-Kinshasa, Province Orientale, Lower Lomami, Yendega, Bosega and Bogunu streams in forest west of Djabir and Yaengo , shallow streams and springs with sand, gravel and leaf litter in forest ( Photo 45), 380 m a.s.l. (0.51 ° N 24.16 ° E), 03-vi- 2010, leg. K.- D.B. Dijkstra, RMNH .

Further material. 3 ♂ ( RMNH.INS.502259 ), 1 ♀ ( RMNH.INS.502411 ), as holotype, RMNH .

Genetics

Two unique haplotypes (n = 3) nearest to female from Uganda identified as N. lujai (Schouteden, 1934) , but N. leroyi (Schouteden, 1934) was not sampled.

Male morphological diagnosis

Recalls N. leroyi by its (a) largely black lower frons, clypeus and labrum, the latter with a pair of large basal pale spots (like N. leroyi in Fig. 18); (b)black occiput; (c) broad and complete black interpleural and metapleural stripes on the thorax as well as well-defined pale postdorsal and ante-humeral stripes separated from each other and the pale area of the middorsal carina (like N.gorilla in Fig. 18); (d) the smooth curve of the anterior border of the posterior hamule; (e) the somewhat convergent cerci with a ventral tooth that is directed straight downwards and thus not visible in dorsal view; and (f) the strongly diverging branches of epiproct ( Fig. 19). However, it is (1) larger on average, Hw 34.0–35.0 mm (n = 4) rather than 31.0–34.0 mm (n = 4); (2) the abdomen is parallel-sided, with S 7–9 scarcely expanded and S 8 longer than high or wide; (3) S 8–9 are black marked laterally rather contrastingly with yellow, rather than uniformly dark rufous; and (4) the cerci are of rather even width throughout in dorsal view, rather than expanded distally ( Fig. 19).

Etymology

Name is derived from a local word “bosumbulisumbuli” meaning dragonfly (noun in apposition).

Range and ecology

Only known from sandy rainforest streamlets about 30 km south of Isangi but also seen in the Yoko Forest near Kisangani, 130 km to the east; both sites are at only around 400 m a.s.l. in the central Congo Basin.