Checklist of Odonata of Sidi Bel Abbes, Northwest Algeria

Abstract

The odonates of Algeria have been studied for more than a century and a half, but the Northwestern part of the country has historically received little attention. A recent study in central North Algeria reported a species new to the country, suggesting that new investigations in unexplored areas are necessary to fully understand the local odonatofauna. We studied assemblages of odonates in 23 sites in Sidi Bel Abbes (Northwest Algeria) by bimonthly recording adults across a 200 m-transect from May to August of 2019–2022. Our sampling yielded 29 species (13 damselflies and 16 dragonflies) belonging to 19 genera and seven families. We recorded a new locality for the regionally endangered Coenagrion mercuriale, expanding the western range limit of the species in Algeria. We documented the occurrence of Selysiothemis nigra, a species that has recently become more frequent in North Africa. Ischnura pumilio and Onychogomphus forcipatus unguiculatus, which are relatively rare in the region, were also recorded. The arid-dwelling Trithemis kirbyi and the Mediterranean endemic Orthetrum nitidinerve were quite common in the study area. This study fills an important gap of knowledge in our understanding of odonate geographic distribution in North Africa.