Choristhemis olivei

Delicate tigertail
Conservation status
Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Odonata
Infraorder:	Anisoptera
Family:	Synthemistidae
Genus:	Choristhemis
Species:	C. olivei
Binomial name
Choristhemis olivei (Tillyard, 1909) [2]

Choristhemis olivei, commonly known as a delicate tigertail, ^[3] is a species of dragonfly in the family Synthemistidae. ^{[4] [5]} This species is endemic to north-eastern Queensland, Australia. ^[6] Choristhemis olivei was first described by Robin Tillyard in 1909 after two males were found. ^[2] In 1999, one additional male was collected and documented by Günther Theischinger, and more recently, a multitude of Choristhemis olivei were found on Thornton Peak, Cape Tribulation. ^[7]

Larvae

A sample of larvae taken from the Thornton Peak yielded an accurate description of the Choristhemis olivei. The specimen measured a length of 17.5 millimetres, the width of the head measuring 4.1 mm, and the abdomen length 12.1 mm. The specimen was a mix of gray and brown with a short frontal plate and long, wide setal structures. These characteristics are believed to be unique to this species, mainly because of a small body overall compared to most species of the Synthemistidae family. ^[7]

Conflict

Some scientists speculated that Choristhemis olivei and Choristhemis flavoterminata specimens found in Australia were that of the same species. More recently however, multiple scientists came to the conclusion that these two species are not the same because of the difference in the male's anal appendages. ^[8]

Gallery

• 
  Male
• 
  Male
• 
  Female
• 
  Female
• 
  Mating

See also

• List of Odonata species of Australia

References

1. Dow, R.A. (2019). "Choristhemis olivei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T87538495A87540159. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T87538495A87540159.en . Retrieved 13 September 2024.
2. Tillyard, R.J. (1909). "On some remarkable Australian Corduliinae, with descriptions of new species". Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. 33 (1908): 737–751 [747] – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
3. Theischinger, Günther; Hawking, John (2021). The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia (2nd ed.). Melbourne, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. p. 406. ISBN   9781486313747.
4. "Species Choristhemis olivei (Tillyard, 1909)". Australian Faunal Directory . Australian Biological Resources Study. 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
5. Paulson, D.; Schorr, M.; Abbott, J.; Bota-Sierra, C.; Deliry, C.; Dijkstra, K.-D.; Lozano, F. "World Odonata List". OdonataCentral, University of Alabama.
6. Moulds, M. S. (1985). "A New Species of Choristhemis Tillyard (Odonata: Synthemistidae)". Australian Journal of Entomology. 24 (2): 113–116. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-6055.1985.tb00201.x .
7. Theischinger, Günther (30 June 2003). "The larva of Choristhemis olivei (TILLYARD)" (PDF). Biologiezentrum Linz/Austria. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
8. Theischinger, Günther (30 July 1999). "New and little-known Synthemistidae from Australia (Insecta: Odonata)" (PDF). Austria: Biologiezentrum Linz/Austria. Retrieved 16 December 2009.