Fingertails

Family Gomphidae      Rambur, 1842

• Genus Gomphidia Selys, 1854

Worldwide distribution

• Found in tropical Africa and Asia. The Asia and Africa groups may in future be separated into different genera

Africa

• 3 similar species in Africa Species
  Gomphidia bredoi, Northern Fingertail
  Gomphidia gamblesi, Western Fingertail
  Gomphidia quarrei, Southern Fingertail
• To species may be separated in a dark and light form   

General description:

• Separated by clasper morphology
• Fairly large (hindwing 31-39)
• Males are easily misidentifies as Ictinogomphus with their long yellow-ringed abdomen 
• In contrast with Ictinogomphus the abdomen is clubbed but without foliations.
• The western African G. gamblesi is always dark, the two species in eastern and central Africa occur in dark and pale varieties, which have been considered separate species.More insight into these forms may be found in Afican Dragonflies &Damselflies Online 

Habitat and behaviour

• Perching along open rivers and larger streams in savanna to forest

Identification guide

• Click HERE for a list of southern African Clubtails by image
  
• Click HERE for an identification guide for Clubtails based on images of the thorax

Synopsis

• Only images of males are shown
• To view images of female follow the menu links to the main description pages
• Click on all images to enlarge. 
• Images of species that are available are shown

A selection of images

Identification guide

Click HERE for an identification guide for Clubtails based on images of the thorax

Images of southern African Clubtails