Syncordulia
Creators: name: Dijkstra, Klaas-Douwe B.
name: Samways, Michael J.
name: Simaika, John P.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2007
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Odonata
Corduliidae
Syncordulia

description: Key to Syncordulia species
Unique characters of each morphological type in the genus are asterisked: gracilis, serendipator and legator – venator. These are potential autapomorphies of the groups (see Discussion).
1 Synthorax with dark-bordered cream stripes posterior to humeral and metapleural sutures*. Costa pale, contrasting with dark Pt*. Dorsal carina of S2–9 pale* (Fig. 1). ď: Abdomen slender, thickest (indistinctly in dorsal view) at S4–6* (Fig. 1). Cerci only bent toward each other at tips*; epiproct almost as long as cerci, with a pair of small dorsal teeth at about midlength (sometimes lost) and an apical knob* (Fig. 5). Ψ: Vulvar scale with inconspicuous appressed and incurved lateral lobes* (Fig. 13)...................... gracilis
- Synthorax rather more uniform, at most darker on sutures. Costa dark, like Pt. Dorsal carina of S2–9 (largely) black (Figs 2–4). ď: Abdomen club-shaped, thickest (in dorsal and lateral view) at S7–8 (Figs 2– 4). Cerci bent toward each other at about midlength, obscuring epiproct in dorsal view; epiproct less than three-quarters as long as cerci, apex without knob but hooked (Figs 10–12). Ψ: Vulvar scale with prominent, often finger- or petal-like, lateral lobes (Figs 14–16)......................................................................... 2
2 Pale markings on S3–8 concentrated apically on segments (Fig. 4). ď: Cerci stout, less than 3x as long as S10, robustly angled ventrally near base and laterally near apex*; epiproct bifurcate* (Fig. 12). S1 ventrally without spikes; hamules massive* (Fig. 8). Ψ: Lobes of vulvar scale less than half as long as the distance between their bases (Fig. 16) .................................................................................. serendipator n. sp.
- Pale markings on S3–8 concentrated basally on segments (Figs 2–3). ď: Cerci slender, over 3x as long as S10, at most weakly angled ventrally near midlength and laterally near base*; epiproct triangular (Figs 10–11). S1 ventrally with pair of spikes*; hamules small (Figs 6–7). Ψ: Lobes of vulvar scale over half as long as the distance between their bases* (Figs 14–15) ............................................................................. 3
3 Small dorsal plate at base of each costa is pale, contrasting with dark surroundings. S3–10 brown-yellow, with contrasting narrow black line over dorsal carina and broadly black sides (Fig. 2). Sum of Fw Ax and Px equals 24–28. ď: Cerci not angled laterally; epiproct just under half as long as cerci (Fig. 10). Ventral spikes on S1, border of genital fossa and genital lobe pale, contrasting with dark surroundings; spikes short (Fig. 6). Ψ: Lobes of vulvar scale narrow and finger-like; cerci about 2x as long as S10 (Fig. 14) .... .................................................................................................................................................. legator n. sp.
- Costal plates dark, like surroundings. S3–10 deep red-brown grading into black at base and along dorsal carina; basal black enclosing pairs of contrasting whitish triangular spots (Fig. 3). Sum of Fw Ax and Px equals 28–35. ď: Cerci angled laterally near base; epiproct half as long as cerci or slightly longer (Fig. 11). Ventral spikes on S1, border of genital fossa and genital lobe dark, like surroundings; spikes long (Fig. 7). Ψ: Lobes of vulvar scale broad and petal-like; cerci about as long as S10 (Fig. 15) ......... venator
description: Published as part of Dijkstra, Klaas-Douwe B., Samways, Michael J. & Simaika, John P., 2007, Two new relict Syncordulia species found during museum and field studies of threatened dragonflies in the Cape Floristic Region (Odonata: Corduliidae), pp. 19-34 in Zootaxa 1467 on page 21, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.176602