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New Mexico Rare Arthropod Resource

The New Mexico Rare Arthropod Resource

 
Ophiogomphus arizonicus (Arizona Snaketail)  


Taxonomy

  • Class: INSECTA
  • Order: ODONATA
  • Family: GOMPHIDAE
  • Genus: Ophiogomphus
  • Scientific Name: Ophiogomphus arizonicus Kennedy, 1917
  • Common Name: Arizona Snaketail
  • Synonyms:

Taxonomic Name Source


Cameron Eckert ()
Species Occurrence Data From: Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)

Agency Conservation Status



  • SGCN
  • NMDGF:
  • USFWS:
  • BLM:
  • USFS:
  • IUCN Red List: Least Concern
  • Nature Serve Global: G2
  • NHNM State: SNR
  • NM Endemic NO


Agency Conservation Status



SGCN NMDGF USFWS BLM Status USFS IUCN
Red List		 Nature Serve
Global		 NHNM State NM Endemic
Least Concern G2 SNR NO


Description

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This a fairly large dragonfly. The thorax is lime green except for reduced black shoulder stripes. The abdomen is mostly dark with greenish-yellow lengthwise stripes along the dorsal surface. The larva is flat and brown with an oval abdomen. Ophiogomphus arizonicus is similar to O. severus, though it can be distinguished by the male epiproct, which is only half the length of the cerci in O. arizonicus and three quarters the length in O. severus. In addition, female O. arizonicus has a straight post-ocellar ridge on the vertex, while the ocellar ridge in O. severus is strongly undulate. Lastly the larva has higher dorsal abdominal spines than O. severus (HAZ 2024).

Habitat and Ecology

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The Arizona Snaketail prefers small, rocky, montane streams with moderately swift currents and open banks, and with silt at the stream margins for larval habitat. Suitable streams are typically found in pine woodlands (Paulson 2017, NatureServe 2024).

Geographic Range

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This southwestern dragonfly species is found in the Mogollon Rim of Arizona and the Gila Mountains of southwestern New Mexico (Paulson 2017). A few dozen occurrences are currently known, within this relatively restricted range (NatureServe 2024).

Conservation Considerations

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There are no conservation actions in place for this species. It does occur mostly in National Forests and Tribal Lands, where it may be protected from some though likely not all potential threats (Paulson 2017). Monitoring is needed to ensure this relatively range restricted species remains stable and habitat quality is not threatened.

Threats

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Threats that destabilize stream flows, such as timber harvest, overgrazing, and forest fires likely disturb this species due to degradation of water quality. The larvae are vulnerable to changes in water quality and altered stream flows (NatureServe 2024).

Population

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While this species may be locally common in suitable habitats (Paulson 2017) little is known about whether populations are abundant or stable, as the species is not monitored closely. It has been noted as “rare” and “local” but more research is needed (Bick 2003).

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