Hooktails
Family Gomphidae Rambur, 1842
Worldwide
Africa
- Currently 30 species are known but more species may well be found
Southern Africa
- Five species visible in south Africa
General description:
- Most often encountered among the Gomphids
- The genus can be grouped into several different groups by features and preferred habitat
- The fritillarius group (named after a Madagascan species. Prefers (often large) rivers.
P. sabicus and P. zambeziensis found in southern Africa
Group is distinguished by the finely-pointed diverging cerci
- The elpidius-group (named after P. elpidius, Corkscrew Hooktail)
Inhabit exposed and/or large water bodies.
P. elpidius found in southern Africa
Has largely green thorax, parallel and blunt-tipped cerci, and relatively short epiproct.
- The cognatus-group
Favours sheltered streams, often or exclusively in forest.
P. cognatus, P, genei
- Taxonomic affinities and precise preferences of the distinctive P. magnus, is
Habitat and behaviour
- Favours open and often large rivers, exposed and/or large water bodies and sheltered streams, often or exclusively in forest.
Synopsis
- Species are shown in alphabetic order by common name
- Only images of males are shown. Females are shown when Males are unavailable
- To view images of female follow the menu links to the main description pages
- Images of species that are available are shown
- Click on all images to enlarge.
Hooktail identification comparison Chart
Identification guide
A selection of images
