Reappearance of the endangered species Calopteryx exul (Odonata, Zygoptera) in western Algeria, after 120 years


Published: Apr 10, 2026
Keywords:
Damselfly Maghreb. North Africa biodiversity
Mohamed Mairif
Abstract

Morton's 1905 report of Calopteryx exul Selys, 1853 in Sebdou, was the only historical record of this zygopteran species in western Algeria. This article reports a new locality for this species in western Algeria, in the Ouarsenis region, on the southern slopes of the western Tellian Atlas, at Oued El El-Gherga, municipality of Youssoufia Youssoufia-Tissemsilt. A total of 19 individuals and 8 exuviae of C. exul were encountered in September 2022 on a 900 m stretch of the Oued ElEl-Gherga river (from its point of contact with oued El Assa to its point of contact with Oued Bourafedh), this site represents the second locality of record for this endangered species in the west of the country.

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