Pseudagrion aureolum Dijkstra, Mézière & Kipping ^ZBK sp. nov. – Nugget Sprite

(Type Photo 18, Photos 26 –28, 52, 62, Fig. 12)

Taxonomy

Genetically, morphologically and ecologically unlike any other species of the B-group of Pseudagrion Selys, 1876 (see Dijkstra et al. 2007).

Material studied

Holotype ♂. Gabon, Haut-Ogooué Province, Batéké Plateau, road to Léconi Park, Laboumi River, sandy stream (4–6 m), 445 m a.s.l. (1.5232 ° S 14.2906 ° E), 30 -xii- 2008, leg. N. Mézière, RMNH .

Further material. GABON (Haut-Ogooué Province): 2 ♂, as holotype, RMNH . 1 ♂, locality as holotype, 04-vii- 2009, leg. N. Mézière, RMNH . 2 ♂, Franceville-Kessala Road, Kessala, Mpassa, large sandy river (> 20 m wide), 410 m a.s.l. (1.8958 ° S 13.8975 ° E), 09-xi- 2009, leg. N. Mézière, RMNH . 1 ♂, Lac aux Caïmans, Léconi, large lake with swamps and pools, 460 m a.s.l. (1.6533 ° S 14.2763 ° E), 06-ii- 2010, leg. N. Mézière, RMNH . 1 ♂, same locality, 13 -ix- 2010, leg. N. Mézière, RMNH . 2 ♂ ♀ (RMNH.INS.503281, RMNH.INS.503282), 5 km after Bongoville towards Léconi, Andzaba River, Ekala, sandy and swampy stream (Photo 62), 389 m a.s.l. (1.6319 ° S 13.8887 ° E), 28 - iii- 2010, leg. N. Mézière & J. Renoult, RMNH . 1 ♂ 2 ♂ ♀, Bongoville-Léconi road after Ekala, old village of Boubou, stream (2 m wide) with gravel bottom (Photo 52), 393 m a.s.l. (1.6114 ° S 13.9105 ° E), 20 -ix- 2009, leg. N. Mézière, RMNH . 2 ♂, Léconi road, Souba, lake in grassland, 428 m a.s.l. (1.5767 ° S 14.0492 ° E), 27 -xii- 2010, leg. N. Mézière, RMNH. 1 ♂ (RMNH.INS.508773), same locality, 09-iii- 2013, leg. N. Mézière, RMNH . 1 ♂ 2 ♂ ♀, Léconi, Les Eaux Claires, Laboumi River, small sandy river (4–6 m) with gallery forest in savanna,, and associated swamp and pools, 446 m a.s.l. (1.5753 ° S 14.2014 ° E), 29 -xii- 2009, leg. K.- D.B. Dijkstra, N. Mézière & C. Vanappelghem, RMNH . 2 ♂, same locality, 04-vii- 2009, leg. N. Mézière, RMNH . 1 ♂ (RMNH.INS.502420), same locality, 20 -ix- 2009, leg. N. Mézière, RMNH . 2 ♂ (RMNH.INS.503367), 50 km N of Franceville, Franceville-Okondja Road, Léconi River at bridge N of Onvouri-Olounga, large sandy river, 307 m a.s.l. (1.1776 ° S 13.5389 ° E), 10 -i- 2010, leg. K.- D.B. Dijkstra, N. Mézière & C. Vanappelghem, RMNH . 1 ♂, 34 km E of Franceville, Franceville-Léconi road, NE of Bongoville, small streams at forest edge, 417m a.s.l. (1.6131 ° S 13.9056 ° E), 31 -xii- 2009, leg. K.- D.B. Dijkstra, RMNH . 1 ♂ (RMNH.INS.508800), Batéké Plateau, Parc de la SPB, Ekala 2, Léconi Valley, forest pond with much leaf litter, 420 m a.s.l. (1.3673 ° S 14.1463 ° E), 05-iv- 2013, leg. N. Mézière, RMNH . 1 ♂, Akieni, sandy stream (4–6 m), 474 m a.s.l. (1.1708 ° S 13.8740 ° E), 07-ii- - 2009, leg. N. Mézière, RMNH . 1 ♂, Léconi, Léconi River near Léconi town, sandy river with gallery forest in savanna (Photo 28), 484 m a.s.l. (1.5847 ° S 14.2450 ° E), 30 -xii- 2009, leg. N. Mézière & C. Vanappelghem, RMNH . 1 ♂, Batéké Plateau, Léconi, Léconi River, sandy stream (> 10 m wide), 527 m a.s.l. (1.5844 ° S 14.2443 ° E), 04-vii- 2009, leg. N. Mézière, RMNH . 7 ♂, Batéké Plateau, Laboumi River 7.5 km NE of Léconi, sandy river with very clear water in dense gallery forest, 446 m a.s.l. (1.5232 ° S 14.2906 ° E), 25 -i- 2012, leg. J. Kipping, CJKL . 1 ♂, Batéké Plateau, Léconi River 2 km W of Léconi, sandy river with very clear water in open landscape, 440 m a.s.l. (1.5844 ° S 14.2442 ° E), 28 -i- 2012, leg. J. Kipping, CJKL .

Genetics

Two unique haplotypes (n = 7) are well-separated from but nearest to P.glaucescens Selys, 1876 and P. isidromorai Compte Sart, 1967 .

Male morphological diagnosis

Unlike any Pseudagrion of the B-group by the combination of (1) the small size, Hw 15.5–17.5 mm (n= 13); (2) the orange-yellow face and front of eyes; (3) the deep rufous back of the eyes, postocular spots and thorax, all almost devoid of black markings; and the male structures that are close to but distinct from those of its (genetically) nearest relatives, especially P. glaucescens: (4)the penis is simple and square-ended; (5) the cerci are somewhat longer than the simple paraprocts and have a distinctive though small subapical tooth on the lower flange, which creates a three-pointed tip in dorsal view (Fig. 12).

Etymology

Latin “golden” refers to the rich colour of this species (neuter adjective).

Range and ecology

Open and clear streams, rivers and lakes between 300 and 550 m a.s.l. on the sandy Batéké Plateau in south-eastern Gabon (Photos 26, 28). This is an unusual habitat for the B-group of Pseudagrion, which prefers warmer habitats such as sluggish rivers and ponds.