Lestinogomphus angustus, Martin, 1911

Riddle of the day: What does today's featured creature share with whale sharks and dogfish?

No, it's not a cartilaginous fish. It shares a misleading name, although in this case it's the Latinate generic name, Lestinogomphus, derived from Lestes and Gomphus, the type genera of the Spreadwing Damselflies (Lestidae) and the Clubtail Dragonflies (Gomphidae), respectively. As with dogfish and whale sharks, the second one is the actual affiliation. 

Behold, then, the common fairytail dragonfly:

 

Photographed in near Chombe, in the Kafue National Park, in October 2011, Using and Olympus E-420 with Zuiko 40-150mm lens and 1 KOOD magnifier.

It's not a great photograph, and I would have tried for a better one but, having a perfectly rational fear of crocodiles, I was uncomfortable keeping my back to the Kafue for more than a few seconds at a time.  

This delightfully odd dragonfly, which we've already established is the common (or spined) fairytail, is also known as 

Lestinogomphus angustus

Martin, 1911

As with all dragonflies I'm aware of, it is harmless - there is no sting in that tail - but can deliver a painful (but venomless) nip if handled.   

 - Gomphini

- Gomphinae

- Gomphidae  

- Aeshnoidea    

- Anisoptera       

- See also Rhyothemis semihyalina.

- Epiprocta             

- Odonata                 

- See also Pseudagrion hageni and Enallagma cyathigerum.

- Holodonata                

- Odonatoptera               

- Manopterygota               

- See also Metisella willemi, Acada biseriata, Anthocharis cardamines, Laelia robusta, Zebronia phenice, Crambus pascuella, Senaspis haemorrhoa, Helophilus pendulus, Episyrphus balteatus, Diasemopsis meigenii, Dolichotachina caudata, Megistocera filipes, Metadon inermis, Panorpa germanica, Melolontha melolontha, Malachius bipustulatus, Demetrias atricapillus, Otiorhynchus atroapterus, Cheilomenes lunata, Anthia fornasiini, Oedemera noobilis, Synagris proserpina, Vespula germanica, Astata tropicalis, Andrena nigroaenea, Hagenomyia tristis, Pephricus, Anoplocnemis curvipes, Ranatra, Grypocoris stysi, Cyathosternum prehensile, Lobosceliana loboscelis, Stictogryllacris punctata, Sibylla and Humbe tenuicornis.

- Pterygota                                        

- Dicondylia                                        

- Insecta                                                 

- Hexapoda                                               

- Arthropoda                                               

- See also Ligia oceanica, Dicranopalpus ramosus, Alopecosa barbipes, Enoplognatha ovata, Argiope bruennichi and Hyllus argyrotoxus.

- Ecdysozoa                                                       

- Protostomia                                                       

- Nephrozoa                                                             

- See also Zootoca vivipara, Trachylepis varia, Lygodactylus capensis, Thelotornis capensis, Burhinus vermiculatus, Sterna hirundo, Ardea goliath, Chalcophaps indica, Troglodytes troglodytes, Hipposideros vittatus, Chiromantis xerampelina, Rana temporaria and Synchiropus splendidus.

- Bilateralia                                                                         

- Eumetazoa                                                                            

- Animalia                                                                                    

- Eukaryota                                                                                                            

And it might not be much, but that is all, folks! 

As previously mentioned, the best place online to go for african dragonflies is the aptly names Africa Dragonfly, although use with caution, as the moderators may occasionally let though a misidentified image... Warwick Tarboton's page on dragonflies of South Africa also seems good, although I've yet to explore it fully...