Jewels 

Family Chlorocyphidae Cowley, 1937

• Genus Platycypha .4 Genera, 12 species. 2 species in Southern Africa. One is endemic
• Genus Chlorocypha.  About 30 Species in Africa One species, Chlorocypha consueta have historic records in South Africa.
  
• Genus Africocypha, Localised Lower Guinean genus
  
• Genus Stenocypha,(Slender Jewels) 5 Species centered in the Albertine Rift Valley of Central Africa

Distribution

• The family occurs only in the Old World tropics, but is absent from Madagascar and Australia.
• It comprises fifteen to twenty genera, the majority of which are Oriental.
• However, with almost 50 species, about a third of the family’s species diversity is Afrotropical.

General Information:

• Jewels are recognised by their pig-like snout, short abdomen and bright colours, especially reds and blues.
• Females of most species are dull.
• Males have dancing courtship and territorial displays. During these displays they flaunt the colours of their legs.
• Boulder Jewel, Platycypha fitzsimonsi is endemic to South Africa
• There are only historic records of Ruby Jewel, Chlorocypha consueta, in South Africa.

General Identification information:

• Species identifications should be based on mature males only.
• Immature specimens may have very dull and different colours and cannot reliably be identified.
• When cold, specimens often appear darker and blotchy.
• Females must preferably be identifies in conjunction with a male.

Synopsis 

Only Images of southern African species are shown
A click on family/species name will link to the main species description article and image gallery