Orthetrum caledonicum

Last updated

Blue skimmer
Orthetrum caledonicum male.jpg
Male
Orthetrum caledonicum 5270.jpg
Female
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Infraorder: Anisoptera
Family: Libellulidae
Genus: Orthetrum
Species:
O. caledonicum
Binomial name
Orthetrum caledonicum
(Brauer, 1865) [2]
Orthetrum caledonicum distribution map.svg

Orthetrum caledonicum, the blue skimmer, [3] is a common Australian dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. [4] [5]

Contents

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]

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References

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 1 2 Theischinger, Gunther; Hawking, John (2006). The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Collingwood Vic.: CSIRO. p. 266. ISBN   0643090738.
  4. "Species Orthetrum caledonicum (Brauer, 1865)". Australian Faunal Directory . Australian Biological Resources Study. 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  5. Schorr, Martin; Paulson, Dennis. "World Odonata List". Slater Museum of Natural History. University of Puget Sound . Retrieved 1 March 2017.

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