Epipleoneura
Creators: name: Pessacq, Pablo
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2014
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Odonata
Protoneuridae
Epipleoneura

description: Key to males of Epipleoneura   
A key to females is not included since only half of the females have been described for the known species. Caution should be used in using this key. Identification relies on subtle differences of the epiproct, cerci, and apex of the genital ligula some of which should be examined at high (ca 100x) power and proper lighting for best results.  
1. Cercus in posterior view with an inner-basal branch, lobe or tooth visible on posterior or latero-posterior view (e.g. Figs. 1 b-c, 3, 7b-c, CT, CIB)..................................................................................... 2  
1’. Cercus in posterior view without an inner-basal branch or tooth (e. g. Figs. 8 b, 17bc, 19b, 24c)........................ 3  
2. Epiproct in posterior view with a well-developed quadrangular or convexly curved medial lobe on its distal margin (ML, Figs. 4 b and 5b), with its apex surpassing the level of poorly developed lateral branches (LB)............................. 4  
 2’. Epiproct in posterior view without a medial lobe on its distal margin (Figs. 1 b–3b, 6b–9b), if present (in some males of E. metallica and E. fernandezi, figs 6b, 13b), its apex never surpassing the level of lateral branches...................... 5   
3. Cercus dorsal branch with an apical hook (Figs. 8, 18 c, 19).................................................. 21  
3’. Cercus dorsal branch without an apical hook (Figs. 17, 22–27)................................................ 22  
 4. Medial lobe of epiproct in posterior view quadrangular (Fig. 5 b).................................... E. capilliformis   
 4’. Medial lobe of epiproct in posterior view convexly curved (Fig. 4 b).................................. E. demarmelsi   
 5. Epiproct in posterior view with an additional lateral lobe, apical branch short and rounded (Fig. 12 b)....... E. venezuelensis   
5’. Epiproct in posterior view lacking an additional lateral lobe, apical branch variable................................ 6  
6. Epiproct in posterior view with a wide (Figs. 7 b–9b, 13b, 21b) or narrow (Figs.1 and 67 c–f) basal gap between branches.. 7  
6’. Epiproct in posterior view with branches fused basally (Figs. 2 b, 3b, 67 a–b) from about half (Figs.6 b, 20b) to almost their entire length (Figs. 10 b, 11b, 14b, 15b)................................................................... 14  
 7. Cercus ventral branch small and approximately rounded, with two posterior small teeth visible in inner view, dorsal branch with a big inner apical spine or small hook anteriorly directed (Fig. 25 a–c,e).......................... E. albuquerquei   
7’. Cercus ventral branch comparatively larger, with a clearly visible inner-basal lobe or tooth (i.e. Figs. 6 b, 9b), dorsal branch without or with a ventral apical hook ventrally or postero-ventrally directed (i.e. Fig. 2 a, 9a)......................... 8  
 8. Cercus without apical hook (Fig. 21 a)........................................................... E. waiwaiana   
8’. Cercus with apical hook (Figs. 1–3, 7, 13)................................................................. 9  
9. Epiproct in posterior view with branches widely separated at their bases, distance between them greater than half length of epiproct branch (Fig. 6 b, 7b, 9b, 13b, 68 a–f).............................................................. 10  
9’. Epiproct in posterior view with branches slightly separated at their bases, distance between them considerably less than half length of epiproct branch (Figs. 1 b, 67c–f)................................................................ 13  
 10. Epiproct branches short and triangular (Fig. 6 b).................................................... E. fernandezi   
10’ Epiproct branches long and narrow (Figs. 7 b, 9b, 13b)...................................................... 11  
 11. Epiproct branches in posterior view divergent, their apices straight (Figs. 13), bent medially, or rarely convergent (Figs. 68 e–f)........................................................................................... E. metallica   
11’. Epiproct branches in posterior view parallel, their tips slightly convergent apically (Figs. 7 b, 9b)..................... 12  
 12. Epiproct branches comparatively long, in posterior view reaching or surpassing cercus ventral margin (Fig. 7 b).. E.pereirai   
 12’. Epiproct branches comparatively short, in posterior view not reaching cercus ventral margin (Fig. 9 b).......... E. susanae   
 13. Epiproct branches in posterior view separated by a triangular structure at their bases (Fig. 2 b, TS), inner-basal branch of cercus triangular, visible in lateral view (Fig. 2 a).................................................. E. machadoi (in part)   
 13’. Epiproct branches in posterior view not separated by a triangular structure at their bases (Fig. 1 b), inner-basal branch of cercus not triangular, medially directed and with its apex directed posteriorly, not visible in lateral view (Fig. 1 a)...... E. kaxuriana   
14. Epiproct branches in posterior view fused along their entire length (Figs. 10 b, 11b, 14b, 15b)....................... 15  
14’. Epiproct branches in posterior view fused at their bases or along basal half (Figs. 2 b, 67 a–b)....................... 18  
15. Epiproct in posterior view distinctly longer than wide, apex with two narrow lobes (Figs. 14 b, 15b).................. 16  
15’. Epiproct in posterior view about as long as wide, apex with two short, wide rounded lobes (Figs. 10 b, 11b)............. 17  
 16. Cercus in posterior view with a narrow mesally directed inner-basal process, its apex directed posteriorly and reaching midline of S10 medially (Fig. 15 b). Apex of genital ligula with two long and slender apical lobes and a V cleft on its distal margin (Fig. 30)......................................................................................... E. uncinata   
 16’ Cercus in posterior view with a well-developed posteriorly directed inner-basal tooth (Fig. 14 b). Genital ligula with two apical quadrangular lobes and a wide medial U cleft on its distal margin (Fig. 37)................................ E. janirae   
 17. Cercus dorsal branch parallel to main body axis in lateral view, with apex blunt with a small inner spine (Fig. 10 a) E. tariana   
 17’. Cercus dorsal branch directed upward in lateral view, with an apical hook directed meso-ventrally (Fig. 11 a)...... E. lamina   
18. Epiproct branches in posterior view fused along ca basal half (Figs. 16 b, 20b)..................................... 19  
18’. Epiproct branches in posterior view fused at their bases (Figs. 2 b, 3b).......................................... 20  
 19. Gap between epiproct branches at their apices wider than epiproct base, branches comparatively thick (Fig. 20 b). Peduncle of posterior processes of genital ligula long and clearly visible, apex of genital ligula triangular, not bent upward and lacking spines (Fig. 36).............................................................................. E. humeralis   
 19’. Gap between epiproct branches at their apices narrower than epiproct base, branches comparatively thin (Fig. 16 b). Peduncle posterior processes of genital ligula short, barely visible. Apex of genital ligula folded upwards, with a lateral spine on each side, posterior process widely rounded in lateral view, (Fig. 43)......................................... E. westfalli   
 20. Inner basal margin of cercus with a well-developed triangular tooth clearly visible in lateral view, cercus in lateral view approximately L-shaped. Branches of epiproct comparatively longer, reaching ventral level of cercus inner basal tooth (Figs. 2 a, b) (rarely separated at their bases, also keyed under couplet 11 due to intraspecific variation)...... E. machadoi (in part)   
 20’. Inner basal margin of cercus with a small rounded tooth, barely visible in lateral view; cercus in lateral view approximately C shaped. Branches of epiproct comparatively shorter, not reaching ventral level of cercus inner basal tooth (Fig. 3 a, b) E. ottoi   
 21. Cercus dorsal branch parallel to main body axis, epiproct branches in posterior view long and slender, widely separated at their bases, divergent, with apex closely appressed against medial surface of cercus (Fig. 18 a)................... E. fuscaenea   
21’ Cercus dorsal branch directed postero-dorsally, epiproct branches in posterior view relatively short and not widely separated at their bases, if divergent, then branches short and with apex bluntly pointed (Figs. 8 b, 19b).......................... 23  
22. Epiproct branches in posterior view adjacent or close together at their bases (Figs. 17 b, 27 b)....................... 24  
22’. Epiproct branches in posterior view widely separated at their bases (Figs. 22–26)................................. 25  
23. Branches of epiproct in posterior view divergent, apex of branches rounded, cleft between them inverted V shaped (Fig. 19 b)............................................................................................. E. pallida  
 23’. Branches of epiproct in posterior view parallel or convergent, apex of branches acute, cleft between them inverted U shaped (Fig. 8 b)..................................................................................... E. ocuene   
 24. Cercus longer than S10, dorsal branch parallel to main body axis (Fig. 27 a)........................... E. manauensis   
 24’. Cercus shorter than S10, dorsal branch directed postero-dorsally (Fig. 17 a)............................... E. solitaria   
 25. Apical margin of genital ligula segment 3 in ectal view very wide and with two triangular lobes directed postero-laterally (Fig. 47)......................................................................................... E. haroldoi   
25’. Apical margin of genital ligula segment 3 in ectal view comparatively much narrower, without lobes directed postero-laterally (Figs. 45, 46, 52).................................................................................... 26  
 26. Cercus ventral branch in lateral view separated by a narrow excavation from dorsal branch and almost parallel to it. Apex of paraproct not reaching level of ventral branch apex (Fig. 23 b)........................................... E. angeloi   
26’. Cercus ventral branch in lateral view separated by a wide excavation from dorsal branch. Apex of paraproct surpassing level of ventral branch apex (Figs. 24 b, 26b)..................................................................... 27  
 27. Cercus ventral branch forming a ca 45° angle with dorsal branch in lateral view (Fig. 24 b), concave medially; epiproct branches separated at their bases by a distance longer than length of each branch (Fig. 24 a)................ E. williamsoni   
 27’. Cercus ventral branch directed posteriorly in lateral view (Fig. 26 a), flattened dorso-ventrally, epiproct branches separated at their bases by a distance shorter than length of each branch (Fig. 26 b).................................. E. spatulata
description: Published as part of Pessacq, Pablo, 2014, Synopsis of Epipleoneura (Zygoptera, Coenagrionidae, " Protoneuridae "), with emphasis on its Brazilian species, pp. 201-234 in Zootaxa 3872 (3) on pages 203-204, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3872.3.1, http://zenodo.org/record/230974