Africocypha

Africocypha
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Suborder: Zygoptera
Family: Chlorocyphidae
Genus: Africocypha
Pinhey, 1961

Africocypha is a genus of jewel damselfly in the family Chlorocyphidae. There are at least three described species in Africocypha.[1][2][3][4]

The dragonfly species Africocypha centripunctata is also known as Chlorocypha centripunctata, the Banded Jewel[5] or Nigerian damselflies[6], and known for their multi-color abdomens ranging from blue to yellow and red.[7] They inhabit the streams of Nigeria's Obudu mountains, which has been exposed to deforestation, consequently leading to the endangerment status of the A. centripunctata species along with others of the same family.

Anatomy and Morphology

The abdomen color combinations vary from blue-white, yellow-orange, and bright red. Its family, Chlorocyphidae, are considered unique for their expanded eyes and clypeus in its adult stages, as well as its short abdomen, the larva's spiky paraprocts and reduced epiproct.[8]

Behavior

Current knowledge on chlorocyphid displays during threat and courtship involve aggressive flight patterns. Males fly parallel to eachother when in a dispute. Males will also seize females in attempt to mate with them as they lay eggs.[9]

Distribution and Habitat

Africocypha centripunctata along with other damselflies have been found in the Obudu Plateau region of Cross River State Nigeria. Citings of the A. centripunctata have been found in Cameroon in 2008 and Nigeria as of 2024.[5] Its habitat requires bodies of water, and for that reason they are mainly found in wetlands, rainforest streams and tropical forests. Logging and wood harvesting for agriculture expansion have been potential threats that have led to their ecosystem degradation, therefore they have been listed as endangered as of 2017.[10]

Conservation

In April of 2024, the Rufford Foundation presented a final evaluation report for the Ecological Survey of the Threatened and Relict Damselflies on the Obudu Plateau, Nigeria. The project was able to improve the awareness of odanates in Nigeria, confirm identity of the A. centipunctata larva and observe barbed wire fencing protecting landscapes that were initially open to human foot traffic.[11]

Species

These three species belong to the genus Africocypha:

  • Africocypha centripunctata (Gambles, 1975)
  • Africocypha lacuselephantum (Karsch, 1899)
  • Africocypha varicolor Dijkstra, Mézière & Günther, 2015

References

  1. ^ "Africocypha". GBIF. Retrieved 2020-01-23.
  2. ^ Dijkstra, Klaas-Douwe B.; Kalkman, Vincent J.; Dow, Rory A.; Stokvis, Frank R.; et al. (2014). "Redefining the damselfly families: a comprehensive molecular phylogeny of Zygoptera (Odonata)" (PDF). Systematic Entomology. 39 (1): 68–96. Bibcode:2014SysEn..39...68D. doi:10.1111/syen.12035.
  3. ^ "Odonata Central". Retrieved 2019-07-02.
  4. ^ "World Odonata List". Slater Museum of Natural History, University of Puget Sound. 2018. Retrieved 2019-07-02.
  5. ^ a b "Africocypha centripunctata (Gambles, 1975)". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  6. ^ Gyuse, Terna (2024-08-22). "Search for rare Nigerian damselflies finds forest habitats under threat". Conservation news. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  7. ^ McHard, J. A.; Winefordner, J. D.; Attaway, J. A. (1976). "A new hydrolysis procedure for preparation of orange juice for trace element analysis by atomic absorption spectrometry". Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 24 (1): 41–45. doi:10.1021/jf60203a033. ISSN 0021-8561. PMID 1435.
  8. ^ Systematic Entomology. Wiley.
  9. ^ Orr, A. G. (1996-01-01). "Territorial and courtship displays in Bornean Chlorocyphidae (Zygoptera)". Odonatologica. 25 (2): 119–141. ISSN 0375-0183.
  10. ^ Viola Clausnitzer (IUCN SSC Dragonfly Red List Authority); Klaas-Douwe Dijkstra (IUCN SSC Dragonfly Specialist Group; Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, The Netherlands) (2017-10-27). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Africocypha centripunctata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Archived from the original on 2025-02-20.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ Matthew, Adedapo (April 15, 2024). "Ecological Survey of the Threatened and Relict Damselflies on the Obudu Plateau, Nigeria" (PDF). The Rufford Foundation. {{cite web}}: line feed character in |title= at position 47 (help)

Further reading

  • Kalkman, V. J. (2013). Studies on phylogeny and biogeography of damselflies (Odonata) with emphasis on the Argiolestidae (PhD). Leiden University. hdl:1887/22953.
  • Steinmann, Henrik (1997). Wermuth, Heinz; Fischer, Maximilian (eds.). World Catalogue of Odonata, Volume I: Zygoptera. Das Tierreich. Vol. 110. Walter de Gruyter. ISBN 978-3-11-014933-3.
  • Westfall, Minter J. Jr.; May, Michael L. (1996). Damselflies of North America. Scientific Publishers. ISBN 978-0-945417-93-4.


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