Cape Thorntail, Ceratogomphus triceraticus,  Kaapse Doringstert

From the capeMale
Thorntail Male Male
103 506 Ceratogomphus triceraticus Cape thorntail 1Female

Short description:

Cape Thorntail, Ceratogomphus triceraticus  Kaapse Doringstert is large sized, dark brown, with some deep yellow markings and large foliations on segment 8.

Family Gomphidae     (Rambur, 1842)

More Images:

108 507 Ceratogomphus triceraticus Cape Thorntail Male Kogelberg Western Cape 18 11 2015Image Gallery

 
 
 
 
 

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Key identification features:

Male:

  • Face dull yellow.Face dull yellow. Labrum yellow with central black line that joins two black spots. Anteclypeus grayish yellow. Postclypeus yellow, bordered above and below with two brownish black lines that run across and touch in the middle. Frons brownish yellow. Head black above, back of head brownish yellow.
  • Eyes dark grey.
  • Thorax with narrow deep yellow and wide brown stripes with pruinescence along sutures.
  • Wings faintly greenish. Pterostigmas of medium length (4 mm), black.
  • Abdomen alternately deep brown and deep yellow. Large foliations on segment 8 dull yellow in center with wide blackish brown margin and some pruinescence. Segment 10 with large, robust, forward-pointing dorsal spine with dark brown tip. Superior appendages with wide, robust,outward-pointing spines.

Female:

  • Female similar but brighter. Foliations on segment 8 small.
Habitat:
  • Streams in open landscapes or open areas in forest. Especially calm sections (like pools) with coarse detritus, often with rocks and a gravelly and/or sandy bottom
  • Inferred to occur from 0 to 1100 m above sea level.
Behaviour:
  • Flies low over bushes. A strong flier that perches on the ground or low vegetation.
Compared with other species:
  • Larger size and overall darker than Ceratogomphus pictus (Common Thorntail) which is more yellow.
  • Black markings on thorax, abdomen and foliation is considerably darker than C. pictus.
  • Female very similar to Rock Hooktail Paragomphus cognatus, Rock Hooktail 100 1484 Paragomphus cognatus Rock Hooktail Female Wilgerivier MP RSA Nov 2017r 1
Visual similar species
Ceratogomphus pictus. CommonThorntailCommonThorntail
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 3Clubbed Talontail
Crenigomphus hartmanni
 
 
 
Related Species 
100 1494 Ceratogomphus pictus Common Thorntail Male Hertzogberg MP RSA Nov 2017r 4Common Thorntail
Ceratogomphus pictus
 
 
 
 
 
Distribution:
Distribution Map May 2020Distribution Map
Physical Map South Africa Physical Map
Political Map South africa Political Map
Ceratogomphus triceraticus Cape Thorntail Africa Distribution Map Aug 20212021Distribution Map
Physical Map AfricaPhysical Map
Political Map AfricaPolitical Map

South Africa:

  • Endemic to South Africa and restricted to the Southern Cape. 
Further reading:

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