Gynacantha Explained

Gynacantha is a genus of dragonflies in the family Aeshnidae.^[1] The females have two prominent spines under the last abdominal segment.^[2] This gives the genus name (from Greek female and thorn) and the common name two-spined darners; they are also known as duskhawkers.

Species

The genus Gynacantha includes the following species:^[3]

1. Gynacantha adela
2. Gynacantha africana - Giant Duskhawker
3. Gynacantha albistyla
4. Gynacantha alcathoe
5. Gynacantha apiaensis
6. Gynacantha apicalis
7. Gynacantha arnaudi
8. Gynacantha arsinoe
9. Gynacantha arthuri
10. Gynacantha auricularis
11. Gynacantha bainbriggei
12. Gynacantha bartai
13. Gynacantha basiguttata
14. Gynacantha bayadera
15. Gynacantha bifida
16. Gynacantha biharica
17. Gynacantha bispina
18. Gynacantha bullata - Black-kneed Duskhawker
19. Gynacantha burmana
20. Gynacantha calliope
21. Gynacantha calypso
22. Gynacantha cattienensis
23. Gynacantha caudata
24. Gynacantha chaplini
25. Gynacantha chelifera
26. Gynacantha comorensis
27. Gynacantha constricta
28. Gynacantha convergens
29. Gynacantha corbeti
30. Gynacantha croceipennis
31. Gynacantha cylindrata - Greater girdled Duskhawker
32. Gynacantha demeter
33. Gynacantha dobsoni – lesser duskhawker^[4]
34. Gynacantha dohrni
35. Gynacantha dravida
36. Gynacantha ereagris
37. Gynacantha francesca
38. Gynacantha furcata
39. Gynacantha gracilis
40. Gynacantha helenga
41. Gynacantha hova
42. Gynacantha hyalina
43. Gynacantha immaculifrons - Pale Duskhawker
44. Gynacantha incisura
45. Gynacantha interioris
46. Gynacantha japonica
47. Gynacantha jessei
48. Gynacantha khasiaca
49. Gynacantha kirbyi – slender duskhawker^[4]
50. Gynacantha klagesi
51. Gynacantha laticeps
52. Gynacantha limbalis
53. Gynacantha litoralis
54. Gynacantha maclachlani
55. Gynacantha malgassica
56. Gynacantha manderica – little duskhawker^[5]
57. Gynacantha membranalis
58. Gynacantha mexicana – bar-sided darner^{[2] [6]}
59. Gynacantha mocsaryi – paddle-tipped duskhawker^[4]
60. Gynacantha musa
61. Gynacantha nausicaa
62. Gynacantha nervosa – twilight darner^[7]
63. Gynacantha nigeriensis – yellow-legged duskhawker^{[6] [8]}
64. Gynacantha nourlangie – cave duskhawker^[4]
65. Gynacantha odoneli
66. Gynacantha pasiphae
67. Gynacantha penelope
68. Gynacantha phaeomeria
69. Gynacantha radama
70. Gynacantha rammohani
71. Gynacantha remartinia
72. Gynacantha risi
73. Gynacantha rolandmuelleri
74. Gynacantha rosenbergi – grey duskhawker^[4]
75. Gynacantha rotundata
76. Gynacantha ryukyuensis
77. Gynacantha saltatrix
78. Gynacantha sextans - Dark-rayed Duskhawker
79. Gynacantha stenoptera
80. Gynacantha stevensoni
81. Gynacantha stylata
82. Gynacantha subinterrupta
83. Gynacantha tenuis
84. Gynacantha tibiata
85. Gynacantha usambarica – Usambara duskhawker^[9]
86. Gynacantha vargasi
87. Gynacantha vesiculata
88. Gynacantha villosa – hairy duskhawker^[10]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Genus Gynacantha Rambur, 1842. 2012. Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study. 20 March 2017.
2. Book: Paulson, Dennis R.. Dragonflies and Damselflies of the West. 2009. Princeton University Press. 978-0-691-12281-6.
3. Haber. William A.. 2019-05-28. Gynacantha vargasi (Odonata: Anisoptera: Aeshnidae) sp. nov. from Costa Rica. Zootaxa. en. 4612. 1. 58–70. 10.11646/zootaxa.4612.1.3. 31717078 . 190882751 . 1175-5334.
4. Book: The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. 2006. CSIRO Publishing. 0-643-09073-8. Theischinger, G. . Hawking, J. .
5. Clausnitzer, V. . Suhling, F. . Dijkstra, K.-D.B. . 2016 . Gynacantha manderica . 2016 . e.T59876A72361162 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T59876A72361162.en . 11 November 2021.
6. Web site: North American Odonata. University of Puget Sound. 5 August 2010. 2009. 11 July 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100711213624/http://www.pugetsound.edu/academics/academic-resources/slater-museum/biodiversity-resources/dragonflies/north-american-odonata/. dead.
7. Paulson, D.R. . 2017 . Gynacantha nervosa . 2017 . e.T165050A80689618 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T165050A80689618.en . 11 November 2021.
8. Clausnitzer, V. . Suhling, F. . Dijkstra, K.-D.B. . 2016 . Gynacantha nigeriensis . 2016 . e.T59877A72361538 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T59877A72361538.en . 11 November 2021.
9. Clausnitzer, V.. Suhling, F.. amp. Gynacantha usambarica. 2010. e.T59879A12114020. 2010. 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T59879A12114020.en.
10. Clausnitzer, V. . Suhling, F. . Dijkstra, K.-D.B. . 2016 . Gynacantha villosa . 2016 . e.T59881A72363075 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T59881A72363075.en . 11 November 2021.