Cover photo by Bertie Brink.
Identification
Medium Sized
Length attains 49mm; Wingspan up to 68mm.
The Horned Talontail is very similar to Crenigomphus hartmanni (Clubbed Talontail). The main difference is that Crenigomphus cornutus lacks the small foliations on abdomen segments 8 and 9. Additionally, in Crenigomphus cornutus segments 9 and ten are of similar length, whereas in Crenigomphus hartmanni segment 10 is roughly twice as long as segment 9.
Kabompo River, Zambia
Photo by Bertie Brink
Habitat
The Horned Talontail inhabits large rivers in savanna regions. It favours sites with lotic (fast-flowing) water and abundant grass and low bushes.
Behaviour
The Horned Talontail is most often seen foraging in rank grass near rivers. Crenigomphus cornutus hunts from a perch, usually a tall grass or reed stem, but sometimes also from bushes.
Status and Conservation
The Horned Talontail is listed as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This species is data deficient in South Africa.
Distribution
The Horned Talontail is erratically distributed in South-Central Africa. It has been recorded from Southern DRC, Northern Zambia, and Angola. It has also been recorded from the Zambezi region of Southern Zambia, Namibia’s Caprivi Strip, far north-eastern Botswana and north-western Zimbabwe.
In South Africa Crenigomphus cornutus has only been recorded once, from Malelane in the Kruger National Park.
There are no maps for this species at present.
Further Resources
The use of photographs by Bertie Brink is acknowledged.
Horned Talontail Crenigomphus cornutus Pinhey, 1956
Other Common Names: Puntige Kloustert (Afrikaans).
Recommended citation format: Loftie-Eaton M; Navarro R; Tippett RM; Underhill L. 2025. Horned Talontail Crenigomphus cornutus. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at https://thebdi.org/2020/08/24/horned-talontail-crenigomphus-cornutus/
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.
