Clubtails

Identification - All Clubtails

Family Gomphidae

 

 

 

100 1892 Paragomphus genei Common Hooktail Zaagkuildrift NWP RSA Febr 2017r 5 2Common Hooktail
Paragomphus genei
100 3396 Microgomphus Nyassicus Easren Scissortail Male Swadini LP RSA May 2021r 16Eastern Scissortail Microgomphus Nyassicus 
100 2666 Lestinogomphus angustus Spined Fairytail Male Songimvelo Nature Reserve MP RSA Febr 2019r 2 Spined Fairytail Lestinogomphus angustus 
100 595 Crenigomphus hartmanni Clubbed Talontail Young Male Songimvelo Nature Reserve MP RSA Feb 2019r 7Clubbed Talontail Crenigomphus hartmanni 
How to use this guide
  • Click on the link provided below to open the visual list.
  • At the bottom of the list is a button marked Previous Page. A click will link back to this page.
  • A click on any image will link to the detail page.
  • Compare image of the species to the list of all South African species 100 1892 Paragomphus genei Common Hooktail Zaagkuildrift NWP RSA Febr 2017r 5 2
    For closer identification
  •  Compare the features based on images of the thorax100 945 Paragomphus genei Common Hooktail Male Ndumo KZN RSA Mch 2019r 1
    For the perfect identification
  • Compare the features based on clubs and foliages 100 3132 Gomphidia guarrei Southern Fingertail Male Close up Leselo Lodge LP RSA OCT 2020r 23 100 1202 Ictinogomphus ferox Common Tigertail Male Close up Nwanedi LP RSA Dec 2018r 23
General identification features
  • Coloured in combinations of green, brown, yellow, and black. This exclude eye colour. This is the most common feature for this family.
  • All species have very distinctive markings on lateral and dorsal thorax. 100 3124 Gomphidia guarrei Southern Fingertail Male Close up Leselo Lodge LP RSA OCT 2020r 8100 3127 Gomphidia guarrei Southern Fingertail Male Close up Leselo Lodge LP RSA OCT 2020r 14
  • Only Dragonfly with eyes widely separated rather than in contact.100 3129 Gomphidia guarrei Southern Fingertail Male Close up Leselo Lodge LP RSA OCT 2020r 16
  • Most species have enlarged foliations on terminal abdominal segments 100 1202 Ictinogomphus ferox Common Tigertail Male Close up Nwanedi LP RSA Dec 2018r 23
  • Most species have flares segments at the last three segments of the abdomen called Clubs) 100 3132 Gomphidia guarrei Southern Fingertail Male Close up Leselo Lodge LP RSA OCT 2020r 23 
What is:
  • Foliations
    100 1202 Ictinogomphus ferox Common Tigertail Male Close up Nwanedi LP RSA Dec 2018r 23 Flattened  lateral, leaf-like extensions at the tip of the abdomen of some adult Clubtails (Gomphidae) and females of some other species
  • Clubtail
    100 3132 Gomphidia guarrei Southern Fingertail Male Close up Leselo Lodge LP RSA OCT 2020r 23 Primarily found in Gomphids (Clubtails) Many Clubtail species (but not all) are adorned with three noticeably flared segments at the end of their abdomen that give them their name. A few non-Gomphids sport clubs too but normally small. The club is more prominent in males, and they will raise the end of the abdomen to display it.
Synopsis
  • Images ordered in alphabetical by scientific names
  • Only males are shown. To view images of female please follow the link provided by clicking on the image to the description page 
  • To view females follow the menu links to the species description page 
  • Click on images links to the species detail page
HERE we go into the world of identifying a Clubtail Dragonfly

Click HERE for a visual list of South African Clubtails

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

Click HERE for identification guide for Clubtails based on Clubc and Foliages