Critical species of Odonata in southwestern Africa

In this report we review the conservation status of Odonata of southwestern Africa, viz Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In total, 287 species have been recorded of which three have been previously listed by IUCN. We consider 60 species mainly because of their endemism in the region. The majority of the species have to…

Critical species of Odonata in northern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula

The region is broadly determined by desert, which forms a huge belt between the western Palaearctic and the Afrotropics. Fourteen out of the 125 odonate species recorded so far are endemics. There are two main centres of endemism in the region: the northern Maghreb and the southern Arabian Peninsula. Odonate habitats in the desert are…

Critical species of Odonata in Madagascar

Madagascar has approximately 175 species of Odonata. Of the Anisoptera ca 60% is endemic and of the Zygoptera almost 95%. The endemic species can roughly be separated into ‘new endemics’ that are probably recent arrivals from the African mainland and ‘old endemics’. The latter group includes many members of the families Megapodagrionidae, Platycnemididae and Corduliidae,…

Critical species of Odonata in eastern Africa

From eastern Africa, ranging from Somalia and Ethiopia south to Mozambique and Zimbabwe and west to eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and Botswana, ca 500 species of Odonata are known. Comments on species and sites of conservation concern are given as well as recommendations for future research and conservation activities. Due to the rapid and…

Critical species of Odonata in the Neotropics

This report summarizes progress that has been made during the past five years toward the understanding of Neotropical Odonata. It also presents a list of critical species and sites, threats to Odonata conservation in the region, and priorities for further research. This region, the richest in the world for Odonata, must be a focus of…

Critical species of Odonata in North America

Of the approximately 439 species of Odonata known from North America, north of Mexico, comments on 25 species (6%) of conservation concern are given. Species deemed to be under the most threat are Ischnura gemina, Gomphus sandrius, Ophiogompbus australis, Stylurus potulentus, and Libellula jesseana. Two other species not under threat, Neurocordulia micbaeli and Somatochlora brevicincta,…

Critical species of Odonata in Australia

The Australian Odonata fauna is reviewed. The state of the current taxonomy and ecology, studies on biodiversity, studies on larvae and the all identification keys are reported. The conservation status of the Australian odonates is evaluated and the endangered species identified. In addition the endemic species, species with unusual biology and species, not threatened yet,…

Underwater and epilithic oviposition by Australian Aeshnidae (Odonata)

In this article we report underwater oviposition and epilithic oviposition in Anisoptera. We observed Notoaeschna sagittata totally submerged ovipositing on bare rock in the fast current of a rapid. Dendroaeschna conspersa oviposited also underwater, but into wood submerged in very clear water.

Evelyn D.V. Prendergast (1918–2001)

E.D.V. Prendergast retired from a military career in 1973 and henceforth actively pursued many natural history and field sports interests. Studies of birds were followed in the later years by significant work on Odonata. A systematic study of the species’ distributions of Gambian dragonflies and conservation work involving Coenagrion mercuriale were especially important.