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Field ID Guide - SLENDER CLUBTAILS

These 6 species are medium to small clubtails. Ashy and Lancet are among the most common in New Jersey, Beaverpond, Dusky and Harpoon are rather uncommon species found in northwestern New Jersey. Rapids is known primarily from the upper Delaware and its tributaries.  Once you have studied this page, you may want to take our Slender Clubtail ID quiz.

Lancet Clubtail, small size
Distinct club with lateral yellow and yellow rectangle on S9

Ashy Clubtail
dirty brown, indistinct markings, blue-gray eyes

Dusky Clubtail
Note the overall dark coloration

Rapids Clubtail
brightly colored with third pale lateral stripe

Beaverpond Clubtail
Broad triangular frontal stripes

Harpoon Clubtail
Resembles Ashy with broader frontal stripes

Lancet Clubtail
dull blue eyes and yellow face, "Z" stripes

Ashy Clubtail
Blue-gray eyes; z shaped frontal stripes

Dusky Clubtail
Straight frontal stripes, deep blue eyes

Rapids Clubtail
Broad "Z" frontal stripes

Beaverpond Clubtail
broad-based triangular frontal stripes

Harpoon Clubtail
Broad "Z" frontal stripes

Lancet Clubtail
Noticeably clubbed. Bright dorsal markings, including a yellow rectangle on S9 and lateral yellow on S8&9

Ashy Clubtail
dull brown, S9 usually dark dorsally, dull yellow laterally on S8&9

Dusky Clubtail
Unclubbed, dull markings, may show pale rectangle on S9 which fades with age

Rapids Clubtail
small marks on S3-7, S8&9 black dorsally with bold yellow lateral spots

Beaverpond Clubtail
black with narrow streaks dorsally

Harpoon Clubtail
Abdomen largely black with narrow dorsal lines

Lancet Clubtail
Cerci and epiproct about equal, cerci nearly straight dorsally with a downward wedgie

Ashy Clubtail
Cerci wider than epiproct, wedgie smaller and more dorsal than Lancet

Dusky Clubtail
epiproct wider than cerci, cerci with ventral tooth and a single barb visible dorsally

Rapids Clubtail
Yup, it's got claspers, someday I'll get a better photo!
The cerci have a ventral tooth and an indistinct lateral tooth when viewed dosally

Beaverpond Clubtail
Epiproct wider than cerci, cerci with ventral tooth, arrowhead shape dorsally

Harpoon Clubtail
Epiproct wider than cerci, cerci with ventral tooth, dorsally a single barb, like a harpoon

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Click here for acknowledgments
Date, distribution, and status data courtesy of Allen Barlow, NJOS

© 2006 Jim Bangma, NJOS  Comments or suggestions?  Use the Feedback Form