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BULLETIN OF AMERICAN
ODONA OLOGY
Published by the Dragonfly Society of the Americas
Volume 11, Number 1, pp. 11–16
22 January 2009
ISSN 1061-3781
On a Small Collection of Dragonflies from Barcarena Municipality,
Pará State, Brazil, with the Rediscovery of Acanthallagma luteum
Williamson & Williamson
Ângelo P. Pinto and Alcimar L. Carvalho
11
¹ Ph.D. student in Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia) IB-USP, Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Nazaré , Ipiranga -, São
Paulo, SP, Brazil; <odonata_angelo@hotmail.com>
² Laboratório de Biologia e Sistemática de Odonata, Departamento de Entomologia, Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Quinta
da Boa Vista, São Cristóvão -, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; <alagoc@acd.ufrj.br>
On a Small Collection of Dragonflies from Barcarena Municipality, Pará
State, Brazil, with the Rediscovery of Acanthallagma luteum William-
son & Williamson
Ângelo P. Pinto¹ and Alcimar L. Carvalho²
Key words: Odonata, Acanthallagma, Brazilian Amazon, geographic distribution, Neotropical region, taxonomy, Zygoptera
Abstract
A small series of specimens of Odonata from the Barcarena municipality, northern Brazil, is brought on record.
Eighteen species belonging to the families Calopterygidae, Coenagrionidae, and Libellulidae were identified. e rare
species Acanthallagma luteum Williamson & Williamson is reported for the first time after its description and represents
the first record of the genus from Pará state. In addition we provide taxonomic remarks on the Libellulidae Erythrodiplax
fusca (Rambur), Gynothemis pumila (Karsch), Orthemis ferruginea (Fabricius) and Zenithoptera lanei Santos.
Resumo
Uma pequena série de espécimes de Odonata do município de Barcarena, norte do Brasil, é registrada. Foram identifi-
cadas espécies pertencentes às famílias Calopterygidae, Coenagrionidae e Libellulidae. A ocorrência da rara espécie Acan-
thallagma luteum Williamson & Williamson é registrada pela primeira vez após a sua descrição e corresponde ao primeiro
registro do gênero para o estado do Pará. Além disso, algumas notas taxonômicas são fornecidas sobre os Libellulidae
Erythrodiplax fusca (Rambur), Gynothemis pumila (Karsch), Orthemis ferruginea (Fabricius) e Zenithoptera lanei Santos.
Introduction
e dragonfly fauna of the Neotropical region is one of the
richest in the world, with more than species recorded.
is number should be much higher considering that the
biodiversity is the least known of all biogeographic regions
(Garrison et al. ; Kalkman et al. ).
Among the countries in the Neotropics, Brazil undoubtedly
has the highest Odonata diversity with species; at least
species are endemic (Paulson ). e current esti-
mates could be considered conservative and the total num-
ber of the species probably exceeds (cf. Anjos-Santos
& Costa ). Brazil is the largest South American coun-
try and although there are consolidated groups studying
dragonflies, its biodiversity is probably underestimated in
comparison with other countries of the region with active
specialists, i.e. Argentina and Venezuela (von Ellenrieder &
Muzón ; De Marmels ; respectively). Regional fau-
nistic lists are available only for southeastern Brazilian states
(e.g. Machado ; Carvalho & Nessimian ; Carvalho
; Costa et al. ; Costa & Oldrini ; Anjos-San-
tos & Costa ). In comparison, the northern and north-
eastern states, including the entire area of “Amazônia Legal”,
despite high richness, are less surveyed.
e aim of this paper is to register a small collection of drag-
onfly specimens from Barcarena municipality, near the capi-
tol Belém, Pará state, northern Brazil. e series includes
a rare species of the Coenagrionidae genus Acanthallagma
Williamson & Williamson, , reported for the first time
in this state. In addition, taxonomic remarks on some spe-
cies of Libellulidae are provided.
Area Description
e Barcarena municipality (about ° ˝ S, ° ˝ W)
was visited during an environmental impact assessment
for the implementation of an electricity distribution util-
ity, between August and September . Five collecting
points were sampled: Loc. (north portion of Igarapé
Dendê, ° ´ ˝ S, ° ´ ˝ W); Loc. (south
portion of Igarapé Dendê, ° ´ ˝ S, ° ´ ˝ W);
Loc. (Igarapé Acuí, ° ´ ˝ S, ° ´ ˝ W); Loc.
(Igarapé Pramajó, ° ´ ˝ S, ° ´ ˝ W); and
Loc. (Igarapé Japinzinho, ° ´ ˝ S, ° ´ ˝
Bulletin of American Odonatology 11(1): 11–16 (2009)
12
W). is area undergoes intense
anthropogenic activities, as it is
surrounded by roads and agri-
cultural habitations. Although
this area formally is classified as
Amazonian rainforest, it is poor
in natural dense vegetation.
Results and Discussion
We collected adults of
species representing the families
Calopterygidae, Coenagrionidae,
and Libellulidae (Table ). All
specimens were deposited in the
collection of the Departamento
de Zoologia, Instituto de Biolo-
gia, Universidade Federal do Rio
de Janeiro (DZRJ). e majority
of the dragonflies registered breed
in typical lentic environments,
with the dominant family being
Libellulidae [e.g. Erythrodiplax
spp., Diastatops obscura (Fab-
ricius, ), Orthemis spp.].
Some exceptions are the probable stream dwellers Gynothemis
pumila (Karsch, ), Mnesarete williamsoni Garrison,
, and Acanthallagma luteum Williamson & William-
son.
e genus Acanthallagma
e enigmatic genus Acanthallagma contains three species,
i.e. Acanthallagma caeruleum Williamson & Williamson,
, Acanthallagma luteum Williamson & Williamson,
, and Acanthallagma strohmi Williamson & William-
son, , all described in the same paper. ey are small
river dwellers with short and wide wings, characterized by a
large dark spot on the basal half of both pairs (Williamson
& Williamson ). Some aspects of their morphology are
very peculiar, making them difficult to classify under tra-
ditional taxonomic ranks (cf. Davies & Tobin ). For
example, their wings are very wide and less petioled in com-
parison with all other Coenagrionidae genera (Williamson
& Williamson ). ese features resemble those found in
Calopterygidae, a lineage probably very distant phylogeneti-
cally from Acanthallagma (cf. Rehn ). It has been sug-
gested that Acanthallagma is closely related to some Platy-
cnemididae genera, such as the African Metacnemis Selys,
(Williamson & Williamson ) and the monotypic
New Guinean aumatagrion Lieftinck, (R. Garrison
pers. comm.), the last genus doubtfully included in that
family (Gassman ). Despite wing venation characters,
all other features are very similar to species of Acanthagrion
Selys, (Coenagrionidae), particularly the posterior anal
appendages and accessory genitalia of males (Williamson &
Williamson ).
e geographic distribution of Acanthallagma is essentially
Amazonian (Fig. ), with topotypes recorded from the fol-
lowing localities in Brazil: Abunã, Porto Velho municipality
(A. caeruleum) and Vila Murtinho, Nova Mamoré munici-
pality (A. luteum), both from Rondônia state; Nova Olinda,
Tapauá municipality (A. strohmi) from Amazonas state (Wil-
liamson & Williamson ). e only published additional
information on the genus after the original descriptions is a
brief report on the occurrence of A. caeruleum from Shush-
ufindi city, Sucumbíos province, Ecuador (Tennessen ).
On the other hand, there is at least one record of this species
from Napo province, also in Ecuador, waiting to be pub-
lished (D. Paulson pers. comm.). Excluding these records,
there is no other information on these species, indicating
their rarity.
e two males of A. luteum from Barcarena agree almost
perfectly with the features reported in the original descrip-
tion, with some variation on the color pattern of the head.
One male (Loc. ) exhibits the tripartite black spot expan-
sion not connected with the triangular area that encloses the
median ocellus and there are two small pale spots on each
side of the postclypeus (Fig. ), while the other male (Loc.
) presents a postocular pale spot only on one side of the
head (Fig. ). Williamson & Williamson () observed
Family/Species Collecting
Point (Loc.)
Number of
Specimens
C
Mnesarete williamsoni Garrison, m
C
Acanthallagma luteum Williamson & Williamson, * , m
L
Brachymesia herbida (Gundlach, ) m
Diastatops obscura (Fabricius, ) , m
Erythrodiplax basalis (Kirby, ) m
E. castanea (Burmeister, ) , m, f
E. fusca (Rambur, )* , , m
E. melanica Borror, m
E. umbrata (Linnaeus, ) f
Gynothemis pumila (Karsch, )* , f
Idiataphe batesi (Ris, ) m
Micrathyria artemis Ris, m
Oligoclada crocogaster Borror, m
Orthemis aequilibris Calvert, m
O. biolleyi Calvert, m
O. ferruginea (Fabricius, )* m
Perithemis lais (Perty, ) m, f
Zenithoptera lanei Santos, * m, f
Table . List of Odonata species from Barcarena municipality, Pará state, Brazil, with collecting points
(described in “Area Description”) and respective number of specimens. * = species with taxonomic remarks
in text; m = male, f = female.
Bulletin of American Odonatology 11(1): 11–16 (2009)
Pinto & Carvalho Dragonies of Barcarena Municipality, Brazil
13
Figure . Map of northwestern South America showing published distribution records of Acanthallagma species.
Figures –. Acanthallagma luteum, adult males. . head in dorsal view, specimen from Loc. . . same of specimen from Loc. . . thorax in lateral view,
specimen from Loc. . Pale areas on compound eyes in and correspond to irregular detachment of internal structures from the cuticular lens.
Bulletin of American Odonatology 11(1): 11–16 (2009)
Pinto & Carvalho Dragonies of Barcarena Municipality, Brazil
2
3 4
14
variation in the color of the head in the type specimens and
related it to adult maturation. e small rounded dark spot
on the yellow stripe between mesepimeron and metepis-
ternum is located on the level of the first lateral suture
(intersegmental suture), not on the second lateral suture
(metapleural suture) as stated by Williamson & Williamson
(: ). Besides the excellent description, they did not
draw the head and the thorax. erefore, to complement
the original description, we offer photographs of these parts
(Figs. –).
Acanthallagma luteum is reported for the first time after its
description; this is the first occurrence of the genus in Pará
state. is record is more than km from the topotype
locality, which underscores the very poor knowledge about
the distributions of the Amazonian dragonflies. e fact that
A. luteum was found in an open area occupied by agricul-
tural pastures agrees with the earlier field observations of
Williamson & Williamson (), and probably this species
is not a forest dependent. Collecting expeditions must be
made a priority to allow for advances in taxonomy, ecology
and conservation of the northern Brazilian Odonata.
Additional taxonomic notes
Erythrodiplax fusca (Rambur, ) (Red-faced Dragonlet).
is widespread tropical species belongs to the confusing
connata group of Erythrodiplax Brauer, . Paulson ()
revised this group solving most of the persistent taxonomic
questions. is species is commonly confused with the very
similar Erythrodiplax melanorubra Borror, based on the
red color of the frons, and can be distinguished only by the
smaller length of the distal segment of the vesica spermalis
(≤. mm) and by the larger rounded basal spot on the hind
wing (Borror ; Paulson ). Four males specimens
were studied, two with pruinosity on the abdomen (blue
form) and two others without evident pruinosity (red form).
Concerning the blue specimens (blue-abdomened sensu
Paulson ), one of them corresponds perfectly to the
Paulson’s diagnosis, with pruinosity between the transverse
carina of segment (S) tergite and the posterior portion
of S tergite. e other blue specimen is unusual, with dis-
tinctive pruinosity only on S–S; this variation has not
been previously reported. e red-abdomened males (sensu
Paulson ) seemingly possess a very thin layer of wax on
S–S similar to that found on S–S of the second blue
specimen mentioned. All the specimens do not have a true
red abdomen, being rather dark brown to black in color.
is fact could be explained in part by postmortem color
changes. Paulson () suggests that the two forms do not
occur in the same area and that those with a red abdomen
are represented by two geographically isolated populations,
one occurring from southern Pacific coast of Costa Rica to
western Ecuador and the other in southern Brazil. Com-
parisons with red-abdomen specimens from Rio de Janeiro
state deposited in DZRJ did not show significant differences
with the Barcarena specimens. Furthermore, we examined
characteristic specimens of the two morphs taken simultane-
ously in several municipalities in that state (e.g. Angra dos
Reis, Magé, Maricá and Rio de Janeiro). us, allopatric
distribution of the two morphs suggested by Paulson ()
is not confirmed.
Gynothemis pumila (Karsch, ). e genus Gynothemis
Calvert in Ris, was recently redefined by Garrison and
von Ellenrieder (); it is comprised of four species. In
that new diagnosis the authors emphasized the difficulty
in separating female specimens from those of Macrothemis
Hagen, which can be placed in the proper genus only
after specific identification. e three females we studied are
small; hind wing length less than mm (.–. mm)
with a large yellow basal spot in both wings; thorax with
well-defined yellow stripes; pretarsus with claws subequal in
size; abdomen length less than mm (.–. mm) and
with yellow longitudinal stripes. Although there are some
Macrothemis species with similar small size (e.g. M. belliata
Belle, ), the combined features convinced us these spec-
imens belong to Gynothemis. Garrison and von Ellenrieder
(: ) cited Gynothemis venipunctata Calvert in Ris,
as the only species with a basal wing spot. Despite the
presence of this feature in our specimens, the subequal tarsal
claws, well-defined yellow stripes on thorax, and comparison
with females from other localities taken with males indicate
they are G. pumila. e two other possible species, G. uniseta
Geijskes, and G. venipunctata, have the inferior tarsal
claw smaller than the superior, and the thorax is uniformly
colored in the latter species, without pale stripes. e sub-
genital plate is very similar to the figure of G. venipunctata
furnished by Garrison and von Ellenrieder (: ).
Orthemis ferruginea (Fabricius, ) (Roseate Skimmer).
is specific name has been applied indiscriminately to
five sibling species of the genus for a long time. e status
of Orthemis discolor (Burmeister, ), mainly in relation
to O. ferruginea, is uncertain. A solution to differentiate
these two “species” was proposed primarily by De Marmels
() considering the coloration of thorax and abdomen.
e northern populations are assumed to constitute mainly
O. ferruginea, while the southern (including north portion
of South America) O. discolor, with a large sympatric dis-
tribution in Central America and southern Mexico (cf. De
Marmels ; Donnelly ; Paulson a,b). However,
the populations in South America are very heterogeneous
and probably the two “species” are in sympatry in a large
area of this region. Orthemis ferruginea has been recorded in
the southeastern and southern states of Brazil (Santos ;
Costa & Oldrini ). Based especially on the characteris-
tic dark marks on the thorax, we identified our specimens as
Bulletin of American Odonatology 11(1): 11–16 (2009)
Pinto & Carvalho Dragonies of Barcarena Municipality, Brazil
15
O. ferruginea. erefore, this assertion concurs with Santos
() on the occurrence of O. ferruginea in Brazil, at least
in the northern states. On the other hand, it is possible that
our specimens are representatives of an eastern morph of O.
sulphurata Hagen, , (J.J. Daigle pers. comm.). is spe-
cies was described based only on the female holotype which
appears to be lost (Santos ). e controversy thus far
remains unresolved; indeed, this group requires revision
(Garrison et al. ).
Zenithoptera lanei Santos, . e wing color variation
in Zenithoptera Bates in Selys, was extensively studied
and ten morphological patterns were proposed based on the
disposition of the pale spots (Pujol-Luz ; Pujol-Luz &
Fonseca ). Nevertheless, four of our five specimens of
Z. lanei do not agree exactly with any of the described pat-
terns. All the specimens have the general wing coloration
similar to pattern six. One male differs from this pattern by
the reduced subapical spot (SS) on distal portion of the hind
wing and by a vestigial costal spot on both wings. Another
male and one female present just a weak trace of SS in one or
both hind wings. Finally, the two other males do not present
SS spot on the hind wing, composing a pattern of coloration
very distinct from those proposed by Pujol-Luz ().
Acknowledgements
We are indebted to professors J. Nessimian and N. Ferreira-
Jr. (DZRJ) for the opportunity to study this material. We
would like to thank the following Odonatologists: D.R.
Paulson (University of Puget Sound, Tacoma), K.J. Tennes-
sen (Wautoma, Wisconsin) and R.W. Garrison (California
Department of Food and Agriculture, Sacramento) for data
about the geographic distribution on Acanthallagma and
for critical reading of the initial manuscript. We thank J.J.
Daigle (Tallahassee, Florida), T.W. Donnelly (State Univer-
sity of New York, Binghamton), and J.M. Costa and T.C.
Santos (Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de
Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro) for sharing information on the
Orthemis ferruginea group. is study was partially spon-
sored by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de
Nível Superior (CAPES) and Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho
de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ
processes: E-/./ and E-/./).
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