Abstract

A number of expeditions to eight freshwater systems within and around protected areas in the southern region of Nigeria were carried out between 2019 and 2022, with a view to re-discovering relict, rare, and poorly known aquatic invertebrate species. A total of 167 species from 10 orders were collected. Four species were recorded for the first time from Nigeria: Chlorocypha luminosa Karsch, 1893 and C. glauca Selys, 1879 (Odonata: Chlorocyphidae), Ephoron savignyi Williamson, 1802 (Ephemeroptera: Polymitarcyidae), and Cylindrostethus quadrivittatus Bergroth, 1916 (Hemiptera: Gerridae). Findings from this study also revealed that the distribution ranges of Elattoneura girardi Legrand, 1980 (Odonata: Platycnemididae) and Eurymetropsiella schoutedeni Poisson, 1950 (Hemiptera: Gerridae) extend to the southeastern region of Nigeria from the southwestern and northeastern regions, respectively. Rare and/or endemic species of Gerridae (Hemiptera) such as Eurymetra pauliani Poisson, 1941, Eurymetropsiella schoutedeni and Eurymetropsis carayoni Poisson, 1948 were also recorded in this study after several decades of paucity of information on their occurrence. The implications of aquatic invertebrate taxonomy and systematics on conservation in West Africa are discussed, and recommendations are provided.

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