Sympetrum dilatatum

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	ARTHROPODA	INSECTA	ODONATA	LIBELLULIDAE

Scientific Name:

Sympetrum dilatatum

Species Authority:

(Calvert, 1892)

Common Name/s:

English

–

St. Helena Darter

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Data Deficient ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2011

Assessor/s:

Suhling, F. & Martens, A.

Reviewer/s:

Clausnitzer, V. & Samways, M.J.

Justification:
The St. Helena Darter is endemic to St. Helena Island. There are very few published records. The type series (four males, one female) was collected during the U.S. Solar Eclipse expedition between 20^th February and 10^th March 1889-1890 (Calvert 1892, 1894; Ris 1911, Stearns 1894). The last known record, a female, was collected at Green Hill in October 1963 (Pinhey 1964). Because there were no records since then the species was assessed as Extinct. However, there was never a systematic survey for the species not before and particularly not since the last record. We are also not aware of any entomological survey, which may have paid attention to the species. Thus, although the likelihood is high that the species is now Extinct we are unable to exclude that populations still remain. Because of the insufficient surveying during the last 50 years, the current recommendation is Data Deficient rather than Critically Endangered (possibly extinct)..

History:

1996	–	Extinct
1994	–	Extinct? (Groombridge 1994)
1990	–	Extinct? (IUCN 1990)
1988	–	Extinct? (IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1988)
1986	–	Extinct? (IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1986)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is known only from St. Helena Island.
Countries:	Native: Saint Helena (Saint Helena (main island))

Population [top]

Population:	No information is available on current population size or trends for this species. It was last recorded in 1963, however no surveys have been carried out to find the species since then.
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	No information is available on specific habitats for this species.
Systems:	Terrestrial; Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Specific threats are unknown, however habitat destruction is the most likely threat to this species. The island has undergone severe habitat change, with the indigenous vegetation (e.g., tree ferns) being destroyed after colonisation in the late 16^th century.

Major Threat(s):

Specific threats are unknown, however habitat destruction is the most likely threat to this species. The island has undergone severe habitat change, with the indigenous vegetation (e.g., tree ferns) being destroyed after colonisation in the late 16^th century.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Before conservation actions can be formulated surveys are needed, to check, whether the species is still present, what the habitat requirements are and what the habitat status is.

Conservation Actions:

Before conservation actions can be formulated surveys are needed, to check, whether the species is still present, what the habitat requirements are and what the habitat status is.

Citation:	Suhling, F. & Martens, A. 2011. Sympetrum dilatatum. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 10 February 2012.
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