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Beautiful Damselflies

Chlorolestes apricans,
Amatola Malachite Male
Endemic to south Africa
Visible in a small area in the Eastern Cape
Endangered

Platycypha fitzsimmonse,
Bouder Jewel, Male
Endemic to South Africa
Prefers Rocky streams at higher altitudes

Proischnura polychromatica,
Mauve Bluet
Endemic to South Africa
Extremely rare and critically endangered

Pseudagrion newtoni,
Harlequin Sprite, Male
Endemic to South Africa
Rare and localised.

Beautiful Dragonflies

1 4020 Aethriamanta rezia Pygmy Basker P Mch 2024r 3

Aethriamanta rezia, Pygmy Basker
Not often seen. Only visible in the warm costal areas of eastern Southern Africa
Prefers Well vegetated pond

Crenigomphus hartmann, Clubbed Talontail,
Seen perching on rocks in fast flowing rivers
Females often seen some distance away from the water.

Nesciothemis farinosa, Eastern Blacktail
Hunts up and down Ponds and fast flowing streams. Often cohabit and confused with skimmers

Beautiful Dragonflies

Tetrathemis polleni,
Black-splashed Elf
Found on shady streams and pools

103 502 Ceratogomphus triceraticus Cape thorntail 6

Ceratogomphus triceraticus,
Cape Thorntail, Male
Endemic to South Africa
Inhabit flowing rock strewn streams

Diplacodes pumila
Dwarf Percher
Female
Endemic to South Africa

Trithemis hecate,
Silhouette Dropwing,
Male
Not often seen in South africa

Cape Thorntail Image Gallery

Cape Thorntail, Ceratogomphus triceraticus, Kaapse Doringstert

Cape Thorntail Image Gallery containing images as identification aid for the dragonfly species Cape Thorntail, Ceratogomphus triceraticus, Kaapse Doringstert

Click on all images to enlarge or view more

More Images:

Visual similar species

CommonThorntail
Ceratogomphus pictus.

Lined Claspertai Onychogomphus supinus

Clubbed Talontail
Crenigomphus hartmanni

Visual similar species

Ceratogomphus pictus. CommonThorntail

CommonThorntail
Ceratogomphus pictus.

100 1765 Onychogomphus supinus Lined Claspertail Male Melkrivier LP RSA Dec 2017r 4

Lined Claspertai Onychogomphus supinus

100 1792 Crenigomphus hartmanni Clubbed Talontail Male Melkrivier LP RSA Dec 2017r 3

Clubbed Talontail
Crenigomphus hartmanni

Related Species

100 1494 Ceratogomphus pictus Common Thorntail Male Hertzogberg MP RSA Nov 2017r 4

Common Thorntail
Ceratogomphus pictus

Distribution:

Distribution Map May 2020

Distribution Map

Physical Map South Africa

Physical Map

Political Map South africa

Political Map

Ceratogomphus triceraticus Cape Thorntail Africa Distribution Map Aug 20212021

Distribution Map

Physical Map Africa

Physical Map

Political Map Africa

Political Map

South Africa:

Endemic to South Africa and restricted to the Southern Cape.

Further reading:

Websites

Recent discovery

Microgomphus nyassicus,
Eastern Scissortail
Male
Photographed by dragonfly photographer Antoinette Snyman or the first time in southern Africa May 2019

Interesting fact

Zygonyx torridus
Ringed Cascader
Male
Hunts over rapid flowing streams close to cascad

Recently Described

Syncordulia venator,
Mahogany Presba.
Rare. Endemic to the Western Cape Region of South Africa

Beautiful

Phyllogomphus selysi.
Bold Leaftail. Male
Male Seldom seen in South Africa.
Note: Peculiar shaped clasper

Recently Revised

Orthetrum hintzi,
Dark-shouldered Skimmer
Prefers Clear water ponds with grassy verges

Recently Revised

Ceratogomphus pictus,
Common Thorntail,
Found near streams and pools

Recently Revised

Pantala flavescens, Pantala
Hunts over open water and pools

Recently Revised

Africallagma glaucum, Swamp Bluet.
Found at the edge of clear water pools