IUCN SSC Mid-Atlantic Island Invertebrates Specialist Group

Species

Back • Sympetrum dilatatum (Calvert, 1892)

Sympetrum dilatatum (Calvert, 1892)

St. Helena Darter

  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Order: Odonata
  • Family: Libellulidae
DD Data Deficient
IUCN Red List Status:
  • EX
  • EW
  • CR
  • EN
  • VU
  • NT
  • LC
  • DD
  • NE

Countries of Occurrence:
Saint Helena - British Overseas Territory

Archipelago(s):
St. Helena

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Assessor/s:
Suhling, F. & Martens, A.

Reviewer/s:
Clausnitzer, V. & Samways, M.J.

Contributor/s:

Facilitators / Compilers/s:

Assessment Rationale:

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 20th February and 10th 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)

Geographic Range:

This species is known only from St. Helena Island.

Regions:
Saint Helena - British Overseas Territory
Extent of Occurrence (EOO):
(km2)
Area of Occupancy (AOO):
(km2)
Elevation Lower Limit:
(m)
Elevation Upper Limit:
(m)
Biogeographic Realms:
South Atlantic Ocean
Presence:
Extant
Origin:
Endemic St. Helena
Seasonality:
Resident

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.

Habitat and Ecology

No information is available on specific habitats for this species.

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 16th century

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