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Beautiful Damselflies

Chlorolestes apricans,
Amatola Malachite Male
Endemic to south Africa
Visible in a small area in the Eastern Cape
Endangered

Platycypha fitzsimmonse,
Bouder Jewel, Male
Endemic to South Africa
Prefers Rocky streams at higher altitudes

Proischnura polychromatica,
Mauve Bluet
Endemic to South Africa
Extremely rare and critically endangered

Pseudagrion newtoni,
Harlequin Sprite, Male
Endemic to South Africa
Rare and localised.

Beautiful Dragonflies

1 4020 Aethriamanta rezia Pygmy Basker P Mch 2024r 3

Aethriamanta rezia, Pygmy Basker
Not often seen. Only visible in the warm costal areas of eastern Southern Africa
Prefers Well vegetated pond

Crenigomphus hartmann, Clubbed Talontail,
Seen perching on rocks in fast flowing rivers
Females often seen some distance away from the water.

Nesciothemis farinosa, Eastern Blacktail
Hunts up and down Ponds and fast flowing streams. Often cohabit and confused with skimmers

Beautiful Dragonflies

Tetrathemis polleni,
Black-splashed Elf
Found on shady streams and pools

103 502 Ceratogomphus triceraticus Cape thorntail 6

Ceratogomphus triceraticus,
Cape Thorntail, Male
Endemic to South Africa
Inhabit flowing rock strewn streams

Diplacodes pumila
Dwarf Percher
Female
Endemic to South Africa

Trithemis hecate,
Silhouette Dropwing,
Male
Not often seen in South africa

Great Hooktail Male Close-up

Great Hooktail, Paragomphus magnus Groothakiestert

Great Hooktail Male Close-up images to serve as identification aid for the dragonfly species Great Hooktail, Paragomphus magnus Groothakiestert

More images:

100 1785 Ndumu Mch 2017r 3

1 4581 Paragomphus magnus MC Alicedale Mch 2025r 3

Related Species - Hooktails

100 1892 Paragomphus genei Common Hooktail Zaagkuildrift NWP RSA Febr 2017r 5

Common Hooktail
Paragomphus genei

101 665 Paragomphus elpidius Corkscrew hooktail Phatograpger John Eilkinson 10

Corkscrew Hooktail
Paragomphus elpidius

107 601 Paragomphus sabicus Flapper Hooktail Male Phalaborwa MP RSAf

Flapper Hooktail
Paragomphus sabicus

1 4574 Paragomphus magnus m Alicedale Mch 2025r 8

Great Hooktail, Paragomphus magnus

100 1418 Paragomphus cognatus Rock Hooktail Male Ezemvelo Oct 2017r 5

Rock Hooktail,
Paragomphus cognatus

Distribution:

Paragomphus magnus Great Hooktail Distribution Map July 2020

Distribution Map
South Africa

Physical Map South Africa

Physical Map,
South Africa

Political Map South Africa

Political Map
South Africa

Paragomphus magnus Great Hooktail Africa Distribution Map July 2021

Distribution Map
Africa

Physical Map Africa

Physical Map
Africa

Political Map Africa

Political Map
Africa

South Africa:

Previously thought to be vagrant species in South Africa. It has now been found at several localities in Mpumalanga and Northern KZN.

Africa:

Kenya; Mozambique; Republic of South Africa; Tanzania; Zimbabwe

Further reading and other information:

Websites:

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Recent discovery

Microgomphus nyassicus,
Eastern Scissortail
Male
Photographed by dragonfly photographer Antoinette Snyman or the first time in southern Africa May 2019

Interesting fact

Zygonyx torridus
Ringed Cascader
Male
Hunts over rapid flowing streams close to cascad

Recently Described

Syncordulia venator,
Mahogany Presba.
Rare. Endemic to the Western Cape Region of South Africa

Beautiful

Phyllogomphus selysi.
Bold Leaftail. Male
Male Seldom seen in South Africa.
Note: Peculiar shaped clasper

Recently Revised

Orthetrum hintzi,
Dark-shouldered Skimmer
Prefers Clear water ponds with grassy verges

Recently Revised

Ceratogomphus pictus,
Common Thorntail,
Found near streams and pools

Recently Revised

Pantala flavescens, Pantala
Hunts over open water and pools

Recently Revised

Africallagma glaucum, Swamp Bluet.
Found at the edge of clear water pools