Dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata) from the wetland of the Rio Pandeiros, northern region of Minas Gerais State, Brazil, with a description of the male of Archaeogomphus vanbrinki Machado (Anisoptera: Gomphidae)

Abstract

The Odonata from the Refúgio Estadual da Vida Silvestre do Rio Pandeiros (RVSP), located in the Cerrado domain, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, were rapidly surveyed. Sampling efforts were undertaken along the Rio Pandeiros margins during four sampling periods between the rainy (spring–summer) and dry seasons (autumn–winter) from July 2014 to April 2015. We sampled 97 adult specimens of 48 species from seven families, and there were 21 species of damselflies (Zygoptera), and 27 species of true dragonflies (Anisoptera). The dry season yielded a greater species richness and abundance, with Libellulidae dominant along the overall sampling period. A comparison with other biotas in Minas Gerais bringing together a total list of 204 species is provided. RVSP represents an ecotone between the Cerrado and Caatinga domains at the São Francisco river basin and its assemblage exhibited higher similarity index with other Cerrado areas in that state. Our sampling included rare species, many hitherto known only from their type series, and seven new state records were detected for Hetaerina proxima (Selys), Enallagma novaehispaniae Calvert, Oxyagrion fernandoi Costa, Telebasis griffinii (Martin), Telebasis obsoleta (Selys), and Erythrodiplax leticia Machado. In addition, the first known male of Archaeogomphus vanbrinki Machado (Anisoptera: Gomphidae) is described and taxonomic notes presented. The nomenclature status of the specific name “vanbrinki” is revised, and as a consequence all subsequent spellings other than the original are considered unjustified emendations in light of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.

Keywords: Austrogomphinae, Cerrado domain, checklist, deciduous forest, dragonfly, Neotropical, São Francisco basin, taxonomy

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