Pentaphlebia mangana Dijkstra, Lambret & Mézière sp. nov. – Black Relic

(Type Photo 6, Photos 11–12, Fig. 3)

Taxonomy

Dijkstra et al. (2014) separated Pentaphlebia Förster, 1909 as a monogeneric family, which is currently the only endemic odonate family known from the African continent. The new species is the first of the genus to be found south of Cameroon and to have largely black rather than red coloration (Map 3).

Material studied

Holotype ♂. Gabon, Ngounie Province, Mouyanama, Poungui, mountain stream (1– 1.5 m wide) with falls, 624 m a.s.l. (1.6443°S 11.7502°E), 22-iv- -2011, leg. N. Mézière, RMNH .

Further material. CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE (Region de Koulilou): 1♂ 2♀, Conkouati National Park, forest, 90 m a.s.l. (3.7951°S 11.3858°E), 25-ii-2010, leg. P.H. Lambret, RMNH . GABON (Estuaire Province): 1♂ (RMNH.INS.508736), Monts de Cristal, Kougouleu-Medouneu Road, Assegone-Essala, mountain stream with rapids and small falls (2– 4 m wide, 50 cm deep), 469 m a.s.l. (0.5596°N 10.2362°E), 28-xii-2012, leg. N. Mé-Mézière & J. Lekogo, RMNH . GABON (Haut-Ogooué Province): 3♂ (RMNH.INS.502559), 14 km SE of Moanda, “Africa No1” radio station, Moyabi, Bapoupou Stream near Madzay, rocky and sandy stream in forest crossing Franceville-Moanda road, 468 m a.s.l. (1.6628°S 13.2915°E), 05-i-2010, leg. K.- D.B. Dijkstra & C. Vanappelghem, RMNH. 7♂ 2♂ ♀, road to the station, Moanda, gravel-bottomed stream and rocky stream (manganese ore) in forest with rapids and waterfalls, 521 m a.s.l. (1.4815°S 13.2275°E), 28-ii- -2009, leg. N. Mézière, RMNH. 1♂ (RMNH.INS.502654), same locality, 21-viii-2009, leg. N. Mézière, RMNH. 1♂, Franceville road, “Africa No1” radio station, Moyabi, river with rocks and rapids in gallery forest, 460 m a.s.l. (1.6777°S 13.3176°E), 31-iii-2010, leg. N. Mézière, RMNH. 1♀, “ Africa No1” radio station, Madjaye, stream (2– 4m) with rock and gravel bottom, 462 m a.s.l. (1.6632°S 13.2916°E), 04-ix-2009, leg N. Mézière, RMNH. 1♂, “ Africa No1” radio station, Madzai, sandy and rocky stream (<2 m) with waterfall, 303 m a.s.l. (1.6614°S 13.3026°E), 30-iv-2011, N. Mézière, RMNH. 1♂, Moanda-Mounana road, Mbéréssé bridge, Nguiassono, sandy stream (2 m wide, 30 cm deep) with rapids and rocks, 420 m a.s.l. (1.4918°S 13.1826°E), 08-i-2011, leg. N. Mézière, RMNH. 1♂ 1♀, Moyabi, 17 km SE of Moanda, rocky and sandy stream with small waterfall in dense forest, 456 m a.s.l. (1.6777°S 13.3118°E), 24-i-2012, leg. J. Kipping, CJKL. GABON (Ngounie Province): 5♂, as holotype, RMNH. 2♂, Mimongo-Mouila road, mountain stream with falls, rapids and large rocks, 478 m a.s.l. (1.7289°S 11.3072°E), 29-iii-2011, leg. N. Mézière, RMNH. 1♂ (RMNH.INS.506198), 2♀ (RMNH.INS.506170), same locality, 07-iv-2012, leg. N. Mézière, RMNH. 4♂, Etéké road, Yeno, sandy and gravelly mountain stream with rapids and little waterfalls, 650 m a.s.l. (1.5712°S 11.5049°E), 23-iv-2011, leg. N. Mézière, RMNH. 2♂ (RMNH.INS.506202, RMNH.INS.506214), 1♀, same locality, 09-iv- -2012, leg. N. Mézière, RMNH. 2♂ 1♀, Mouila-Mimongo road, Mboutoubi, shallow stream (3 m wide) with falls, 625 m a.s.l. (1.4820°S 11.8011°E), 01-iv-2011, leg. N. Mézière, RMNH. 1♀, Mouila-Mimongo road, Moukandi,> 10 m wide river with waterfall, 573 m a.s.l. (1.4716°S 11.8541°E), 01-iv- -2011, leg. N. Mézière, RMNH. 1♂, Montagne de Chaillu, Dibandi, small stream with small waterfall in dense forest (Photo 12), 650 m a.s.l. (1.4820°S 11.8011°E), 18-ix-2013, leg. J. Kipping, CJKL. GABON (Ogooué-Lolo Province): 1♂, Koulamoutou-Pana road, mountain stream (1– 2 m wide) with rocks and falls, 432 m a.s.l. (1.3045°S 12.5012°E), 02-iv-2011, leg. N. Mézière, RMNH. 1♂ (RMNH.INS.506143), same locality, 09-ii-2012, leg. N. Mézière, RMNH .

Genetics Five unique haplotypes (n = 11) are very distinct but nearest to P. stahli Förster, 1909 .

Male

morphological diagnosis

Typical of genus, that is unique among African damselflies, by its (a) great size, Hw 31.5– 36.5 mm (n = 7); (b) rather dark and uniform coloration; (c)long and narrow wings with darkened falcate tips; (d) 2–4 supplementary Ax distal to the 2 primary Ax in all wings, which are restricted to the costal space; (e) dense venation with 38–47 postnodal cross-veins in Fw but no cross-veins in quadrilateral cells; and (f) IR3 originating at level of the quadrilateral cell, much closer to the arculus than to the node. Most simi- lar to P.stahli by (g) the long and narrow Pt of 3.0– 3.3 mm; (h) the robust cerci with denticulate tips and a well-defined internal subapical blade that is short but wide; and (i) the gradually up-curved paraprocts (Fig. 3). However, (1) the body is entirely dark brown to coal black, even at emergence, save the densely pruinose coxae and femoral bases and a few pale yellowgreen lines on the thorax with maturity, while P. stahli is largely brick red with yellow thoracic lines; and (2) the subapical blade on the cerci is more rounded (Fig.3).

Etymology

Name is derived from the word manganese (noun in apposition). The ore is similarly black as the species and mined within its range.

Range and ecology

Rocky forest streams between 90 and 700 m a.s.l. in Gabon and adjacent north-western Congo-Brazzaville. Males perch in shade near rapids and waterfalls; larvae are assumed to live under rocks like P. stahli (Vick 1998) .