Species account

Green Snaketail (Ophiogomphus cecilia)    (Geoffroy in Fourcroy, 1785)
   Clubtails (Gomphidae) [Dragonflies]    GRSN    24810
Grøn Kølleguldsmed (dk)   Grön Flodtrollslända (se)  
Synonyms (common):
Green Clubtail (gb) Green Gomphid (gb)
Synonyms (scientific):
Aeschna serpentina Charpentier, 1825
Aeschna serpentina Charpentier, 1825
Aeshna spectabilis Eversmann, 1841
Aeshna spectabilis Eversmann, 1841
Paradigma bucheckerii Buchecker, 1876
Paradigma bucheckerii Buchecker, 1876
Ophiogomphus bellicosus Voronocovsky, 1909
Ophiogomphus bellicosus Voronocovsky, 1909
Measurements:
To 50-60mm Ab 37-42mm Hw 30-36mm
Generations:
Flight period:
JFMAMJJASOND 
SE
EU
Identification:
Similar species:
Life stages:
The mating takes place in the vegetation near the water and lasts about 5-10 minutes. The solo flying female drops the eggs into fast flowing water by dipping. The eggs hatch after 4-6 weeks and the larvae live buried in the bottom-material or on the bottom, and develop during 3-4 years. The imago-transformation takes place on rocks or the ground near the water.
Distribution:
C and E Europe including C France. Absent Mediterranean region but present Baltic states and Finland and extreme NE part of Sweden. Also present patchily through temperate Russia to C Siberia. In Denmark only present along the major waterways in central Jylland.
Habitat:
Behavior:
Endemic:
Status (?):NE: Not evaluated
NA: Not applicable
DD: Data deficient
LC: Least concern
NT: Near threatened
VU: Vulnerable
EN: Endangered
CR: Critically endangered
EW: Extinct in the wild
EX: Extinct
RE: Regionally extinct
LC(global) LC(eu) LC(EU) LC(dk). Bern Convention. EU Habitat Directive II, IV. Stable in Denmark with a tendency to expand to new waterways in known range. Protection status perhaps needs a revision?!
Comment:
Two Danish observations in arter.dk from mid-september 2024 are extraordinarilly late.
Green Snaketail 1726    (1 photos)
2023-07-08    Tvilum Bro (Silkeborg), Denmark

Imago Male
Unmistakable but still very difficult to spot when sitting on the ground which they apparently often prefer.



Green Snaketail 1727    (2 photos)
2023-07-08    Tvilum Bro (Silkeborg), Denmark

Imago Male




Green Snaketail 1728    (1 photos)
2023-07-08    Tvilum Bro (Silkeborg), Denmark

Imago Male




Green Snaketail 1729    (1 photos)
2023-07-08    Tvilum Bro (Silkeborg), Denmark

Imago Male
Camouflage colors but still rather distinct when flying over water.



Green Snaketail 1730    (1 photos)
2023-07-08    Tvilum Bro (Silkeborg), Denmark

Imago Male




Green Snaketail 3308    (5 photos)
2025-07-19    Tvilum Bro (Silkeborg), Denmark

Imago Male
I counted 8 males this day. Some flying over the water and the rest roosting on the sun-exposed ground along the grainy parts of the trail.



Green Snaketail 3309    (2 photos)
2025-07-19    Tvilum Bro (Silkeborg), Denmark

Imago Male
Both sitting in the river-side vegetation and on the ground.



Green Snaketail 3310    (3 photos)
2025-07-19    Tvilum Bro (Silkeborg), Denmark

Imago Male
A male with the widest abdominal segment being S8 (female S9). Funny to see how the dark eye-spot changes with the angle.



Green Snaketail 3311    (2 photos)
2025-07-19    Tvilum Bro (Silkeborg), Denmark

Imago Male