Austrolestes aleison

For the possum found in Western Australia, see Western ringtail possum.

Western ringtail
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Odonata
Suborder:	Zygoptera
Family:	Lestidae
Genus:	Austrolestes
Species:	A. aleison
Binomial name
Austrolestes aleison Watson & Moulds, 1979 [2]

Austrolestes aleison is an Australian species of damselfly in the family Lestidae, ^[3] commonly known as a western ringtail. ^[4] It is endemic to south-western Australia, where it inhabits pools, ponds and lakes. ^[5]

Austrolestes aleison is a medium-sized to large damselfly, the male is blue and black. ^[6]

Etymology

The word aleison is from the Greek word ἄλεισον, meaning a goblet. In 1979, Tony Watson and Max Moulds named this species of damselfly after the goblet-shape of the mark on segment 2 of the male abdomen. ^{[2] [7]}

Gallery

• 
  Goblet shape on the tail of a male Austrolestes aleison
• 
  Female wings
• 
  Male wings

See also

• List of Odonata species of Australia

References

1. Dow, R.A. (2017). "Austrolestes aleison". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017 e.T14676531A59256818. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T14676531A59256818.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
2. Watson, J.A.L.; Moulds, M.S. (1979). "New species of Australian Lestidae (Odonata)". Journal of the Australian Entomological Society. 18 (2): 143–155 [144]. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-6055.1979.tb00828.x .
3. "Species Austrolestes aleison Watson & Moulds, 1979". Australian Faunal Directory . Australian Biological Resources Study. 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
4. Theischinger, Günther; Hawking, John (2006). The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Collingwood, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. p. 30. ISBN   978-0-64309-073-6.
5. Theischinger, Gunther; Endersby, Ian (2009). Identification Guide to the Australian Odonata (PDF). Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW. p. 204. ISBN   978-1-74232-475-3.
6. Watson, J.A.L.; Theischinger, G.; Abbey, H.M. (1991). The Australian Dragonflies: A Guide to the Identification, Distributions and Habitats of Australian Odonata. Melbourne: CSIRO. ISBN   0-643-05136-8.
7. Endersby, I. (2012). "Watson and Theischinger: the etymology of the dragonfly (Insecta: Odonata) names which they published". Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales. 145 (443 & 444): 34–53 [37]. doi: 10.5962/p.146542 . ISSN   0035-9173 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.