Orthetrum Explained

Orthetrum is a large genus of dragonflies in the Libellulidae family.[1] They are commonly referred to as skimmers.

The size of adults within the genus ranges from small to large; in Africa, the hindwing ranges in length from 22 to 50 mm. The bodies of adult females and recently emerged males are yellow to brown with black markings; these may facilitate identification of individuals to species level. Mature males, however, develop blue-grey pruinosity over most of their bodies - this makes species identification difficult without the capture of a specimen and inspection of the shape of the hamule.[2]

Species

The genus Orthetrum includes the following species:[3]

Scientific nameCommon nameIUCN Red List StatusDistributionPicture (Male)Picture (Female)
Orthetrum abbotti
Calvert, 1892
Abbott's skimmerSub-Saharan Africa, Jordan and Yemen.[4]
Orthetrum africanum
(Selys, 1887)
Central and Western Africa[5]
Orthetrum albistylum
Selys, 1848
White-tailed skimmer[6] Europe to China and Japan[7]
Orthetrum anceps
(Schneider, 1845)
[8] Europe, India, and northern Africa[9]
Orthetrum angustiventre
(Rambur, 1842)
Many-celled skimmer[10] Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and possibly Tanzania.
Orthetrum austeni
(Kirby, 1900)
Giant skimmer[11] Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, and Zambia.
Orthetrum austrosundanum
Lieftinck, 1953
[12]
Orthetrum azureum
(Rambur, 1842)
Madagascar
Orthetrum balteatum
Lieftinck, 1933
Speckled skimmer[13] [14]
Orthetrum borneense
Kimmins, 1936
Orthetrum boumiera
Watson & Arthington, 1978
Brownwater skimmer[15]
Orthetrum brachiale
(Palisot de Beauvois, 1805)
Tough skimmer[16] Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Réunion, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, possibly Burundi, and possibly São Tomé and Príncipe
Orthetrum brunneum
(Fonscolombe, 1837)
Southern skimmerEurope[17] and the range extends to Mongolia and North Africa.
Orthetrum caffrum
(Burmeister, 1839)
Two-striped skimmer, white-lined skimmer[18] Angola, Cameroon, Chad, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, possibly Burundi, and possibly Gambia
Orthetrum caledonicum
(Brauer, 1865)
Blue skimmer[19]
Orthetrum cancellatum
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Black-tailed skimmer[20] Albania, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France (Corsica, and mainland), Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey (Turkey-in-Europe), Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and in part of United Kingdom
Orthetrum capense
Calvert, 1893
Orthetrum chrysis
(Selys, 1891)
Orthetrum chrysostigma
(Burmeister, 1839)
Epaulet skimmerAlgeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Orthetrum coerulescens
(Fabricius, 1798)
Keeled skimmerAfghanistan; Albania; Algeria; Armenia; Austria; Azerbaijan; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Finland; France; Georgia; Greece; Hungary; Iran, Islamic Republic of; Iraq; Ireland; Italy; Lebanon; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Montenegro; Morocco; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Russian Federation; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Syrian Arab Republic; Tunisia; Turkey; Ukraine; United Kingdom.
Orthetrum glaucum
(Brauer, 1865)
Blue marsh hawk[21] tropical and subtropical Asia
Orthetrum guineense
Ris, 1909
Guinea skimmer[22] Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and possibly Burundi
Orthetrum guptai
Baijal, 1955
Orthetrum helena
Buchholz, 1954
Orthetrum hintzi
Schmidt, 1951
Hintz's skimmer[23] Angola, Benin, Botswana, Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and possibly Burundi
Orthetrum icteromelas
Ris, 1910
Spectacled skimmer[24] Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and possibly Burundi
Orthetrum japonicum
(Uhler, 1858)
Taiwan-shioya-tombo[25]
Orthetrum julia
Kirby, 1900
Julia skimmer[26] Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, possibly Burundi, and possibly Madagascar
Orthetrum kollmannspergeri
Buchholz, 1959
Orthetrum kristenseni
Ris, 1911
Ethiopia
Orthetrum latihami
Pinhey, 1966
Central Africa
Orthetrum lemur
Ris, 1909
Orthetrum lineostigma
(Selys, 1886)
Orthetrum luzonicum
(Brauer, 1868)
Orthetrum machadoi
Longfield, 1955
Machado's skimmer[27] Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and possibly Burundi
Orthetrum macrostigma
Longfield, 1947
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, and possibly Zambia
Orthetrum malgassicum
Pinhey, 1970
Orthetrum martensi
Asahina, 1978
Orthetrum melania
(Selys, 1883)
Orthetrum microstigma
Ris, 1911
Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia
Orthetrum migratum
Lieftinck, 1951
Rosy skimmer[28]
Orthetrum monardi
Schmidt, 1951
Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia
Orthetrum nitidinerve
(Selys, 1841)
Yellow-veined skimmer
Orthetrum poecilops
Ris, 1916
Mangrove skimmer[29]
Orthetrum pruinosum
(Burmeister, 1839)
Crimson-tailed marsh hawk[30]
Orthetrum ransonnetii
(Brauer, 1865)
Desert skimmerWestern Sahara, Sudan, Niger, Chad, Algeria, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Oman, United Arab Emirates
Orthetrum robustum
Balinsky, 1965
Robust skimmer[31]
Orthetrum rubens
Barnard, 1937
Elusive skimmer[32] South Africa
Orthetrum sabina
(Drury, 1770)
Slender skimmer
Orthetrum saegeri
Pinhey, 1966
Cameroon, Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gambia, Togo, Uganda, and Zambia
Orthetrum sagitta
Ris, 1915
Arrow skimmer[33] Sierra Leone
Orthetrum serapia
Watson, 1984
Green skimmer
Orthetrum signiferum
Lieftinck, 1926
Orthetrum silvarum
Lieftinck, 1934
Orthetrum stemmale
(Burmeister, 1839)
Stemmale skimmer[34] Angola, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and possibly Burundi
Orthetrum taeniolatum
(Schneider, 1845)
Small skimmer[35]
Orthetrum testaceum
(Burmeister, 1839)
India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.[36]
Orthetrum translatum
Bartenev, 1929
Orthetrum triangulare
(Selys, 1878)
Blue-tailed forest hawk[37] [38]
Orthetrum trinacria
(Selys, 1841)
Long skimmerAlgeria, Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Ethiopia, France (Corsica), Gambia, Ghana, Italy (Sicily and Sardinia), Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and possibly Burundi
Orthetrum villosovittatum
(Brauer, 1868)
Fiery skimmer[39]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Genus Orthetrum Newman, 1833. 2012. Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study. 27 February 2017.
  2. Web site: Dijkstra. K.-D. B.. ADDO -- African Dragonflies and Damselflies Online. www.zoology.uct.ac.za. 11 May 2017. en.
  3. Web site: World Odonata List. University of Puget Sound. 11 August 2010. Martin Schorr . Martin Lindeboom . Dennis Paulson .
  4. http://www.zobodat.at/pdf/DENISIA_0014_0309-0317.pdf
  5. Clausnitzer, V. . Dijkstra, K.-D.B. . amp . Orthetrum africanum . e.T184246A8252508 . 2010 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T184246A8252508.en . 11 January 2018.
  6. Web site: Checklist, English common names. DragonflyPix.com. 5 August 2010. https://archive.today/20121204160258/http://www.dragonflypix.com/checklist.html. 4 December 2012.
  7. Clausnitzer, V. . 2020 . Orthetrum albistylum . 2020 . e.T158689A140578608 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T158689A140578608.en . 7 July 2024.
  8. Boudot, J.-P.. Schneider, W.. Samraoui, B. . amp . 2013. Orthetrum coerulescens ssp. anceps . e.T13186368A13186370. 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T13186368A13186370.en. 27 November 2022.
  9. http://www.catalogueoflife.org/col/details/species/id/9696016 Catalogue of Life
  10. Clausnitzer, V.. Dijkstra, K.-D.B.. Suhling, F.. amp. Orthetrum angustiventre. 2010. e.T59949A12179210. 2010. 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T59949A12179210.en. 24 December 2017.
  11. Orthetrum austeni. Clausnitzer, V.. Dijkstra, K.-D.B.. Suhling, F.. amp. 2009. 27 September 2011.
  12. Dow, R.A.. Rachman, H.T. Kamaludin, N.. amp . 2021. Orthetrum austrosundanum. e.T139408998A139429993. 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T139408998A139429993.en. 27 November 2022.
  13. Book: The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. 2006. CSIRO Publishing. 0-643-09073-8. Theischinger, G. . Hawking, J. .
  14. Dow, R.A. . Orthetrum balteatum. 2017. e.T163903A87528450. 2017. 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T163903A87528450.en. 17 December 2017.
  15. Dow, R.A. . Orthetrum boumiera. 2017. e.T87535148A87540029. 2017. 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T87535148A87540029.en.
  16. Orthetrum brachiale. Clausnitzer, V.. Dijkstra, K.-D.B.. amp. 2009. 27 September 2011.
  17. Web site: Orthetrum brunneum (Fonscolombe, 1837) | Fauna Europaea. Fauna-eu.org. 24 March 2022.
  18. Orthetrum caffrum. Suhling, F.. Clausnitzer, V.. amp. 2008. 27 September 2011.
  19. Dow, R.A. . Orthetrum caledonicum. 2017. e.T83369732A83383908. 2017. 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T83369732A83383908.en. 17 December 2017.
  20. Mitra, A. . 2020. Orthetrum cancellatum . e.T165521A140593008 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T165521A140593008.en. 27 November 2022.
  21. Dow, R.A.. Orthetrum glaucum . 2009. e.T163780A5650496 . 2009. 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009-2.RLTS.T163780A5650496.en.
  22. Orthetrum guineense. Clausnitzer, V.. Dijkstra, K.-D.B.. Suhling, F.. amp. 2009. 27 September 2011.
  23. Orthetrum hintzi. Clausnitzer, V.. Dijkstra, K.-D.B.. Suhling, F.. amp. 2009. 27 September 2011.
  24. Orthetrum icteromelas. Clausnitzer, V.. Dijkstra, K.-D.B.. Suhling, F.. amp. 2009. 27 September 2011.
  25. Subramanian, K.A. 2010. Orthetrum japonicum . e.T167357A6333755. 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T167357A6333755.en . 27 November 2022.
  26. Orthetrum julia. Clausnitzer, V.. Dijkstra, K.-D.B.. Suhling, F.. amp. 2009. 27 September 2011.
  27. Orthetrum machadoi. Clausnitzer, V.. Dijkstra, K.-D.B.. Suhling, F.. amp. 2009. 27 September 2011.
  28. Hawking, J. . Orthetrum migratum. 2009. e.T163524A5611321. 2009. 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009-2.RLTS.T163524A5611321.en. 17 December 2017.
  29. Wilson, K. D. P.. Orthetrum poecilops. 2009. e.T60302A12340184. 2009. 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009-2.RLTS.T60302A12340184.en. 24 December 2017.
  30. Sharma, G. . Orthetrum pruinosum . 2010. e.T167097A6301540 . 2010. 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T167097A6301540.en.
  31. Suhling, F.. Orthetrum robustum. 2010. e.T63204A12629389. 2010. 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T63204A12629389.en. 24 December 2017.
  32. Orthetrum rubens. Samways, M.J.. 2007. 27 September 2011.
  33. Clausnitzer, V.. Dijkstra, K.-D.B.. amp. Orthetrum sagitta. 2010. e.T169242A6596337. 2010. 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T169242A6596337.en. 24 December 2017.
  34. Orthetrum stemmale. Clausnitzer, V.. Dijkstra, K.-D.B.. Suhling, F.. amp. 2009. 27 September 2011.
  35. Mitra, A. . Orthetrum taeniolatum . 2013. e.T165506A17533964 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T165506A17533964.en. 26 November 2022.
  36. Wilson, K.D.P.. 2011. Orthetrum testaceum . e.T167384A6339264 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T167384A6339264.en. 26 November 2022.
  37. Book: Subramanian, K. A.. Dragonflies and Damselflies of Peninsular India. 2005.
  38. Dow, R.A.. Orthetrum triangulare . 2010. e.T167098A6301833 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T167098A6301833.en. 26 November 2022.
  39. Dow, R.A. . Orthetrum villosovittatum. 2017. e.T83369839A83383913. 2017. 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T83369839A83383913.en. 17 December 2017.