Species profile
Drepanosticta amboinensis
van Tol, 2007
Taxonomic path
SuborderZygoptera
FamilyPlatystictidae
GenusDrepanosticta
DDData Deficient
EndemicAmbon Island
Last updated: 09 July 2026

Diagnosis
Male : A medium-sized Drepanosticta with a dark colour pattern. Head similar to D. moluccana, with pale bluish-white labrum and mandibles; the anterior one-third of the labrum is dark, and the remaining parts of the head are mostly black.
The prothorax is similar to D. moluccana but somewhat darker. The synthorax is predominantly dark brown to black, lacking distinct pale markings; the metepisternum and metepimeron are only slightly paler.
Legs are dark with yellowish areas, and wings are hyaline with brown venation and brown pterostigma.
The abdomen is mainly dark brown. Segment 8 is paler than the remaining terminal segments. Male anal appendages are distinctive: the superior appendages are slightly longer than the inferior appendages, and differ from D. moluccana by lacking a distinct subterminal constriction, although the tips are turned inward and somewhat broadened.
Female : Similar to the male, but with paler abdominal markings that are more extensive. The last abdominal segments are short, and the valves and terminal appendages do not extend beyond the level of the anal appendages.
Morphological Characters

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Locality
Distribution
Known from Ambon Island, Maluku, Indonesia, and possibly Seram.
Ecology
Habitat
Collected from mountainous areas of Ambon, including forested localities between approximately 150–650 m elevation. Detailed habitat conditions were not provided (Van Tol, 2007).
Remarks
Notes
Belongs to the Drepanosticta moluccana species-group. This group is characterized by the absence of distinct pale markings on the synthorax and the structure of the male anal appendages.
This species was historically confused with Drepanosticta moluccana. Earlier records from Ambon referred to D. moluccana, but van Tol (2007) showed that Ambon specimens represent a distinct species, D. amboinensis. The identity of female material from Seram remains uncertain.
The name amboinensis refers to Ambon Island, the type locality.
Literature
References
1 references- 1
van Tol, J. (2007), The Platystictidae of the Moluccas and Misool (Odonata). Dtsch. Entomol. Z., 54: 3-26.