Southern Riverking (Zygonoides fuelleborni)

Cover Photo by Gary Brown.

Find the Ringed Cascader in the FBIS database (Freshwater Biodiversity Information System) here.

Family Libellulidae

Identification

Medium-large to large size.

Length attains 56mm. The wingspan can reach 90mm.

Both sexes are similar in appearance. The most distinguishing feature of Southern Riverking is the swollen basal segments on the abdomen. This is most noticeable in the male.

Most likely to be mistaken for Olpogastra lugubris (Bottletail) or Zygonyx torridus (Ringed Cascader). The Southern Riverking and the Bottletail show similar patterning but are easily separated by their very different abdomen shapes. Zygonoides fuelleborni has a broad abdomen and a noticeably tapered waist. Olpogastra lugubris has a diagnostic, thin, and elongate abdomen. The abdomen of the Ringed Cascader is also broad but lacks the tapered waist. Zygonoides fuelleborni can be further separated from Zygonyx torridus by its bright blue-green eyes as opposed to the black-brown eyes of the latter.

Click here for more details on identification of the Southern Riverking.

Habitat

The preferred habitat of the Southern Riverking is large, strong-flowing savanna rivers with wooded or reed-lined banks. The Southern Riverking especially likes faster-flowing sections of rivers with white water, such as rapids and falls. It requires exposed rocks or overhanging trees for perching on.

Behaviour

The Southern Riverking is a busy and active species with a swift, powerful flight. It perches regularly between flights, but seldom for very long. It often perches on overhanging reeds, trees or bushes and frequently sits on rocks close to the water. The Southern Riverking frequently joins mixed-species hunting swarms at dusk. Zygonoides fuelleborni is on the wing from November to May.

Status and Conservation

The Southern Riverking is uncommon in South Africa. It is localised and thinly distributed in South Africa. It occurs primarily in undisturbed habitats, although it is often found near weirs and dams on rivers that create rapid-like conditions. It is listed as of Least Concern in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Distribution

Zygonoides fuelleborni is found in Eastern and Southern Africa, from Kenya down to central KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa.

Below is a map showing the distribution of records in South Africa for the Southern Riverking. Taken from the OdonataMAP database as at February 2020.

Below is a map showing the distribution of records in South Africa for the Southern Riverking. Taken from the OdonataMAP database as of December 2024.

The next map below is an imputed map, produced by an interpolation algorithm, which attempts to generate a full distribution map from the partial information in the map above. This map will be improved by the submission of records to the OdonataMAP section of the Virtual Museum.

Ultimately we will produce a series of maps for all the odonata species in the region. The current algorithm is a new algorithm. The objective is mainly to produce “smoothed” maps that could go into a field guide for odonata. This basic version of the algorithm (as mapped above) does not make use of “explanatory variables” (e.g. altitude, terrain roughness, presence of freshwater — we will be producing maps that take these variables into account soon). Currently, it only makes use of the OdonataMAP records for the species being mapped, as well as all the other records of all other species. The basic maps are “optimistic” and will generally show ranges to be larger than what they probably are.

These maps use the data in the OdonataMAP section of the Virtual Museum, and also the database assembled by the previous JRS funded project, which was led by Professor Michael Samways and Dr KD Dijkstra.

Further Resources

The use of photographs by Niall Perrins is acknowledged. All other photographs by Ryan Tippett.

Southern River King Zygonoides fuelleborni (Grünberg, 1902)

Other common names: Robust Riverking ; Fuelleborn’s Spectacular (Alt. English); Krasse Bottelstert (Afrikaans)

Recommended citation format: Loftie-Eaton M; Navarro R; Tippett RM; Underhill L. 2025. Southern River King Zygonoides fuelleborni. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at https://thebdi.org/2020/02/21/southern-riverking-zygonoides-fuelleborni/

References: Tarboton, M; Tarboton, W. (2019). A Guide to the Dragonflies & Damselflies of South Africa. Struik Nature.

Samways, MJ. (2008). Dragonflies and Damselflies of South Africa. Pensoft

Samways, MJ. (2016). Manual of Freshwater Assessment for South Africa: Dragonfly Biotic Index. Suricata 2. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria

Martens, A; Suhling, F. (2007). Dragonflies and Damselflies of Namibia. Gamsberg Macmillan.

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