Nesocordulia lyricauda Bernard, Daraż & Dijkstra, 2025
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5660.2.1 |
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publication LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:pub:103B00A2-9573-45C1-B1AE-A1FA9772E247 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16603100 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/B042BE13-FF95-AA7B-71DD-5756FD1CFB9F |
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treatment provided by |
Plazi |
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scientific name |
Nesocordulia lyricauda Bernard, Daraż & Dijkstra |
| status |
sp. nov. |
Nesocordulia lyricauda Bernard, Daraż & Dijkstra sp. nov. —Lyre-tipped Knifetail
Figs 6 View FIGURE 6 , 15–19 View FIGURE 15 View FIGURE 16 View FIGURE 17 View FIGURE 18 View FIGURE 19
http://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:725EA847-38B0-474E-A984-E2D11FB4228B
Etymology. A feminine noun derived from Latin “cauda”, a tail, and “lyra”, an U-shaped instrument with two curvy branches, to describe the distinctive lyre-shaped cerci in dorsal view.
Type material. Holotype male and one paratype male ( MNHN). Both are labelled “ Madagascar ” without further details and are part of René Martin’s collection. The species is known only from these two males identified previously as N. flavicauda , the holotype by René Martin (as indicated by his handwriting on the label), but the paratype by an unknown person. Martin’s misidentified specimen was thus incorrectly described briefly as N. flavicauda in the catalogue of corduliids ( Martin 1907): the caudal appendages illustrated there actually belong to N. lyricauda sp. nov.
Diagnosis. The largest Nesocordulia species, separated by its unique long lyre-shaped cerci, large and uniquely shaped hamule (see Fig. 15 View FIGURE 15 ), and the basal yellow spots uniquely extending both dorsally and laterally on S7. Also has more Px in Fw (11–13 vs. 7–10) and Hw (13–14 vs. 7–11) than other black species.
Description. Both males, while over a hundred years old, are preserved in a moderate condition, with well-defined markings, although especially the pale colours appear faded. The terms describing these refer to the current state, although they were possibly more intensely yellow (or white) in life.
Holotype male. Total length 57.7, abdomen (excluding appendages) 39.6, Fw 41.2, Hw 39.7, Fw Pt 1.9, cerci 3.1. Fw Ax 13–14, Fw Px 11–12, Hw Ax 8, Hw Px 13–14. Colouration generally dark, black and metallic, with yellow pattern.
Head. Face dark, largely metallic, with a yellow slightly trapezoidal centre ( Fig. 6c View FIGURE 6 ). Vertex metallic blue with violet reflections. Frons metallic, with blue, green, violet and copper reflections, and narrowly bronze along the lower edge of antefrons ( Figs 6a, c View FIGURE 6 ). Clypeus largely yellow with metallic (green and copper) sides ( Fig. 6c View FIGURE 6 ). Labrum glossy black and dark bronze, with a central brownish yellow notch at its base ( Fig. 6c View FIGURE 6 ). Labium pale yellow with amber tint ( Fig. 6c View FIGURE 6 ). Occipital triangle black. Postgenae black.
Thorax. Synthorax largely melanized, black, dark brown and metallic (with green, blue, violet, copper and bronze reflections), with large yellow markings ( Fig. 6b View FIGURE 6 ). Mesepisternum largely metallic: green and blue with violet reflections, in a lower third turning into brown and metallic bronze and copper. Mesokatepisternum pale brownish yellow. Three pale yellow markings on synthoracic sides ( Figs 6b View FIGURE 6 , 19 View FIGURE 19 ): the single upper stripe on the mesepimeron and metepisternum, long, narrow and kinked, and two lower spots, a small one on the metakatepisternum below the metastigma and a long and wide one covering the posterior half of the metepimeron and adjacent to the yellow poststernum.
Wings. Pt very short, brown ( Fig. 6a View FIGURE 6 ). Membranula half-whitish anteriorly and half-buff.
Abdomen. Black with paired faded yellow pattern. The laterodorsal spots on each side of S2 are of different shape and size: the anterior spot broad, with tapered tip pointing dorsally, and the posterior one small, directed obliquely ventrally ( Fig. 6d View FIGURE 6 ). The broad yellow lateroventral spot stretched along the whole S2 and penetrating the genital lobe, with a dorsal black ‘bay’ below an auricle ( Fig. 6b View FIGURE 6 ). The laterodorsal yellow pattern on S3–6 consists of anterior stripes on all segments and posterior stripes on S3 only ( Fig. 6d View FIGURE 6 ). S7 with a basal large yellow spot, extended laterally where merging with yellowish markings on the ventral carina and also extended dorsally, crossing the blackish supplementary transverse carina and covering one third of the segment’s length ( Figs 6d,f View FIGURE 6 ). The pale yellow pattern along the ventral carina: (a) on S3–6, a line, broadened anteriorly on each segment; (b) on S7, a broad yellow stripe in the anterior half, basally merged with the dorsolateral ring; (c) on S8, an anterior spot.
Secondary genitalia. In lateral view, the hamule large, with: (a) the dark anterior branch resembling a standing bird (auk), with the anterior margin wavy, and (b) the adjacent posterior branch, broad and almost the same length as the anterior one ( Figs 6b View FIGURE 6 , 15 View FIGURE 15 ). In ventral view, a deep and narrow indentation is visible between the branches, with the inner lobe of the anterior branch broad, and the posterior external branch rounded with a pale margin ( Fig. 16c View FIGURE 16 ). Genital lobe relatively broad and reaching the hamule tip, and directed downwards; partly yellow with a black apex and posterior margin ( Figs 6b View FIGURE 6 , 15 View FIGURE 15 ), and with yellowish and rusty hair-like setae.
Caudal appendages. Cerci long and narrow, slightly tapering distally, creamy white to amber, basally brown (brownish shade up to a quarter of the length). In dorsal view, sinusoidal, with arched base and out-curved tips, thus recalling a Roman lyre ( Figs 6g View FIGURE 6 , 18 View FIGURE 18 ). In lateral view, horn-like, not distended and arched twice, at first up and then down, thus shallowly sinusoidal ( Figs 6d View FIGURE 6 , 17 View FIGURE 17 ). Epiproct rusty yellowish, medium-length, reaching two thirds of the cerci length ( Figs 6d,g View FIGURE 6 , 17 View FIGURE 17 ).
Variation in males. The paratype is larger, total length 60.5, abdomen (excluding appendages) 41.9, Fw 42.3, Hw 41.1, Fw Pt 2.0, cerci 3.2. Fw Ax 14–15, Fw Px 12–13, Hw Ax 8–9, Hw Px 13. Its colour pattern only slightly different due to: (a) paler, brown dorsal background of S1 and anterior parts of S2 and S3; (b) posterior laterodorsal stripes present also on S4 (as a small spot on each side); (c) cerci mostly with amber tint. Secondary genitalia extracted from the body, dissected and glued to a pad ( Fig. 6e View FIGURE 6 ).
Female, distribution and ecology unknown.
| MNHN |
Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle |
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.