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A collection of dragonfly photos taken in The Gambia with, as far as I know, correct ID, although it is not an easy task and adjustments may have to be made!
The Greater Crimson Glider or Scarlet Basker, Urothemis signata, is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It has a vibrant, blood-red body, including the eyes, thorax, and abdomen.
The wings are transparent with an amber-coloured spot and a dark-brown patch at the base of the hindwings. The wing veins are crimson.
This species is commonly found in lowland areas near ponds and slow-flowing rivers. Males often perch on exposed twigs or other vegetation in sunny spots near the water.
While the male is bright red, the female is typically a yellowish or reddish-brown color.
The Southern Banded Groundling, Brachythemis leucosticta, is a species of dragonfly belonging to the family Libellulidae.
Males typically have a black body and distinctive black bands near the tips of their wings, along with yellowish pterostigmas (wing spots). Females and young males are more yellowish-brown, lacking the prominent wing bands.
It prefers open areas near freshwater habitats like rivers, dams and marshes, especially where there’s bare ground such as sand, gravel, or mud.
Known for perching on the ground or low vegetation and often follows large animals (including humans) to catch insects disturbed by their movement.
This species is widespread throughout much of Sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar.
The Portia Widow, Palpopleura portia, is a small species of skimmer dragonfly found in sub-Saharan Africa.
Females typically have a yellowish-brown abdomen with darker markings and black-and-white patterned wings.
The distinctive black markings on the wings are often described as resembling an arched bridge.
This dragonfly frequents open landscapes near shallow water, such as ponds and marshes.
This is, I believe, a female Red-veined Darter, Sympetrum fonscolombii, also known as a Nomad.
Males have a deep red body and red veins in their wings. The females, in contrast, are yellowish-brown. The lower half of the eyes are blue.
The wings have red veins and a pale yellow wing spot (pterostigma) bordered by black veins. The wing bases of the hindwings are yellow.
While common in central and southern Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia, this species is also known to migrate northward to places like Britain, where it has been increasingly observed since the 1990s.
This is a Scarlet Skimmer, Crocothemis servilia, also known as the Ruddy Marsh Skimmer.
It is a medium-sized dragonfly known for its striking blood-red body and a thin black line along the top of its abdomen. Its eyes are blood-red on the top and purple on the sides. The wings are transparent, and the male’s thorax and abdomen are bright red.
Scarlet skimmers are native to East and Southeast Asia but have been introduced to other locations
The Scarlet Percher or Scarlet Dragonfly, Diplacodes haematodes, is often found on sandy ground. The mature male has a flattened, bright red body, including the legs, head, eyes, and wing veins.
The females and immature males are typically yellow-brown with a pale stripe along the thorax.
This species is common in southern Europe and Africa, and also occurs across western Asia as far as southern China. It is known for its ability to avoid overheating during the day due to its highly reflective light red coloration.
The Black Percher, also known as the Black Ground Skimmer, Diplacodes lefebvrii, is native to most of Africa and southern Eurasia, with its European range confined to Cyprus, the Greek island of Rhodes, and the southern Iberian Peninsula
Mature male Black Perchers have a black body and dark purple eyes. Younger individuals may have yellow marks on the sides of the thorax and abdomen. The wings are clear, but can have small amber patches at the base of the hind wings.
This is a small dragonfly, with a body length of 25-34 mm.
This species is widespread and can be found in various freshwater habitats, including ponds, lakes, marshes, and even seasonally flooded areas. It is known to perch on low vegetation or bare ground near the water.
The Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens) is a type of dragonfly, with a slender, blue abdomen and a clear wing base. The male Keeled Skimmer, like the one shown, has a slender blue abdomen and a clear wing base. The female Keeled Skimmer is identified by a black marking on its yellow-brown abdomen. This species is typically found in the southwest of the UK, around heathland, streams, and shallow water.
This dragonfly may also be confused with other species of the Orthetrum genus, such as Orthetrum nitidinerve and Orthetrum luzonicum. Other blue-bodied dragonflies and damselflies, like the Common Blue Damselfly or the Blue Dasher Dragonfly, can be distinguished by differences in body shape, wing markings, and eye characteristics.
