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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