Orthetrum caledonicum
Blue skimmer | |
---|---|
Male | |
Female | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Clade: | Euarthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Odonata |
Infraorder: | Anisoptera |
Family: | Libellulidae |
Genus: | Orthetrum |
Species: | O. caledonicum |
Binomial name | |
Orthetrum caledonicum | |
Orthetrum caledonicum, the blue skimmer, is a common Australian dragonfly in the family Libellulidae.[3][4]
Males have a powder blue thorax and abdomen pruinescent blue when mature. The females are brownish grey in colour while the teneral are yellow with black markings. They are medium in size, with a body length of 4.5 cm (2 in) and a wingspan of 7 cm (3 in).
The species is widespread throughout mainland Australia and extending to Tasmania. It is also found in New Guinea, New Caledonia, Loyalty Islands and Lesser Sunda Islands. It inhabits a range of still and flowing water habitats including temporary waters.[5]
Gallery
- Adult in Margaret River, Western Australia
- Male with hind wing damage viewed from the side
- Female with some pale pruinescence on her tail
- Face of male
- Covered in dew
- Mating pair, male is upright
- Male showing colouration near wingtips
- Young male before his tail turns blue
- Young male showing his true colours
- Female
- Photo of female wings
- Illustration of wings of male
References
- ↑ Dow, R.A. (2017). "Orthetrum caledonicum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2017: e.T83369732A83383908. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T83369732A83383908.en. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
- ↑ Brauer, Friedrich (1865). "Dritter Bericht über die auf der Weltfahrt der kais. Fregatte Novara gesammelten Libellulinen". Verhandlungen der Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien (in German). 15: 501–512 [505] – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
- ↑ "Species Orthetrum caledonicum (Brauer, 1865)". Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study. 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
- ↑ Schorr, Martin; Paulson, Dennis. "World Odonata List". Slater Museum of Natural History. University of Puget Sound. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
- ↑ Theischinger, Gunther; Hawking, John (2006). The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Collingwood Vic.: CSIRO. p. 266. ISBN 0643090738.
External links
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