Orthetrum caledonicum
Appearance
Blue skimmer | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Male | |
![]() | |
Female | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Odonata |
Infraorder: | Anisoptera |
Family: | Libellulidae |
Genus: | Orthetrum |
Species: | O. caledonicum
|
Binomial name | |
Orthetrum caledonicum | |
![]() |
Orthetrum caledonicum, the blue skimmer,[3] is a common Australian dragonfly in the family Libellulidae.[4][5]
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.[3]
Gallery
[edit]-
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
[edit]- ^ Dow, R.A. (2017). "Orthetrum caledonicum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T83369732A83383908. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T83369732A83383908.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b Theischinger, Gunther; Hawking, John (2006). The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Collingwood Vic.: CSIRO. p. 266. ISBN 0643090738.
- ^ "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.
External links
[edit]![](http://up.wiki.x.io/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Wikispecies-logo.svg/34px-Wikispecies-logo.svg.png)
Wikispecies has information related to Orthetrum caledonicum.
Media related to Orthetrum caledonicum at Wikimedia Commons