Platycypha amboniensis

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Bibliography

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	ARTHROPODA	INSECTA	ODONATA	CHLOROCYPHIDAE

Scientific Name:

Platycypha amboniensis

Species Authority:

(Martin, 1915)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Montane Dancing-jewel

Synonym/s:

Libellago amboniensis Martin, 1915

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Critically Endangered B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) ver 3.1

Year Published:

2010

Assessor/s:

Clausnitzer, V.

Reviewer/s:

Dijkstra, K.-D.B. & Suhling, F. (Odonata Red List Authority)

Contributor/s:

Justification:
It is assessed as Critically Endangered in view of its limited extent of occurrence and area of occupancy along montane forest streams of the Aberdare Mounts. and Mount Kenya between 1,600 and 2,000 m altitude. The forests have been largely cleared in these altitudes and only fragmented and small secondary forest pockets are left below 2,000 m. Though these are protected as forest reserves, illegal activities as logging, charcoal burning and even clear cutting are common and urgent conservation measures are necessary.

Platycypha amboniensis has not been recorded from the northeastern Africa region, but occurrence on the northern slopes of Mount. Kenya is possible. Surveys should be undertaken to confirm this, but for the time being it is listed as Not Applicable.

History:

2006	–	Critically Endangered (IUCN 2006)
2006	–	Critically Endangered

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	The species is endemic to montane forest streams of Aberdare Mounts and Mount Kenya (central Kenya). Its extent of occurrence is far below 100 km² and the area of occupancy less than 10 km². The population is severely fragmented as a result of hardly any forest remaining in the known range area. It has not been recorded from northeastern Africa, but streams draining north from the Aberdare Mounts and Mount Kenya need to be surveyed first, since the species might occur there.
Countries:	Native: Kenya
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	No information available.
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Montane forest streams, 1,600 to 2,000 m asl.
Systems:	Terrestrial; Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Destruction of montane forests is a major threat. Hardly any forest is left in the altitude range inhabited by this species, though the remaining forests are gazetted, illegal charcoal burning and logging continues to a large extent.

Major Threat(s):

Destruction of montane forests is a major threat. Hardly any forest is left in the altitude range inhabited by this species, though the remaining forests are gazetted, illegal charcoal burning and logging continues to a large extent.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	The species requires better protection of its habitat, especially within protected areas, and the development of a management plan, as well as research on the streams draining north from the Aberdare Mounts and Mount Kenya need to be surveyed since the species might occur there.

Conservation Actions:

The species requires better protection of its habitat, especially within protected areas, and the development of a management plan, as well as research on the streams draining north from the Aberdare Mounts and Mount Kenya need to be surveyed since the species might occur there.

Bibliography [top]

	Dijkstra, K.-D.B. and Clausnitzer, V. 2005. An annotated checklist of the dragonflies (Odonata) of eastern Africa, with critical lists for Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda, new records, taxonomic notes and descriptions of new species. in prep. Dijkstra, K.-D.B. and Clausnitzer, V. in press. The Dragonflies and Damselflies of Eastern Africa (Odonata). Studies in Afrotropical Zoology (Monography Series of the Africa Museum in Tervuren, Belgium). IUCN. 2010. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (ver. 2010.3). Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 2 September 2010).

Dijkstra, K.-D.B. and Clausnitzer, V. 2005. An annotated checklist of the dragonflies (Odonata) of eastern Africa, with critical lists for Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda, new records, taxonomic notes and descriptions of new species. in prep.

Dijkstra, K.-D.B. and Clausnitzer, V. in press. The Dragonflies and Damselflies of Eastern Africa (Odonata). Studies in Afrotropical Zoology (Monography Series of the Africa Museum in Tervuren, Belgium).

IUCN. 2010. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (ver. 2010.3). Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 2 September 2010).

Citation:	Clausnitzer, V. 2010. Platycypha amboniensis. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 20 June 2013.
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