Megalogomphus superbus

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Megalogomphus superbus
Male
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Infraorder: Anisoptera
Family: Gomphidae
Genus: Megalogomphus
Species:
M. superbus
Binomial name
Megalogomphus superbus
Fraser, 1931

Megalogomphus superbus, is a species of dragonfly in the family Gomphidae.[2] It is known only from the Western Ghats of India.[3][1]

Description and habitat[edit]

It is a large dragonfly with bottle-green eyes. Its thorax is velvet-black marked with tender-foliage green. Segment 1 of the abdomen is black with lower part of sides and middle of apical border dorsally pale grass-green. Segment 2 is black with a mid-dorsal stripe bordered with yellow or grass-green. Segment 3 is with a narrow mid-dorsal stripe in green to yellow. The apical third of the segment is black, the medial third except on mid-dorsum bright reddish-brown. Segments 4 to 6 are similar to 3; but the middle third of all segments is entirely reddish-brown. Segment 7 has basal two-thirds citron-yellow and apical third black. Segment 8 is dark reddish-brown changing to black on dorsum. Segment 9 is similar but with the lateral spot much larger and brighter yellow. Segment 10 is reddish-brown. Anal appendages are reddish-brown, paler at base.[4]

It differs from Megalogomphus hannyngtoni by the red medial markings of abdominal segments 3 to 6, by the occiput being yellow instead of black and the face less black, and by the presence of a humeral stripes.[4]


This dragonfly perches on twigs, shrubs, and boulders in hill streams. It breeds in fast flowing forested hill streams.[4][5]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Dow, R.A. (2009). "Megalogomphus superbus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2009: e.T163693A5636959. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009-2.RLTS.T163693A5636959.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. ^ "World Odonata List". Slater Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 2018-10-02.
  3. ^ K.A., Subramanian; K.G., Emiliyamma; R., Babu; C., Radhakrishnan; S.S., Talmale (2018). Atlas of Odonata (Insecta) of the Western Ghats, India. Zoological Survey of India. p. 234. ISBN 9788181714954.
  4. ^ a b c C FC Lt. Fraser (1934). The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma, Odonata Vol. II. Red Lion Court, Fleet Street, London: Taylor and Francis. pp. 300-302.
  5. ^ C FC Lt. Fraser (1931). Additions to the Survey of the Odonate (Dragonfly) Fauna of Western India, with Descriptions of Nine New Species (PDF). pp. 460–463.