Rainforest elf | |
---|---|
Tetrathemis irregularis cladophila, Cairns, Australia | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Odonata |
Infraorder: | Anisoptera |
Family: | Libellulidae |
Genus: | Tetrathemis |
Species: | |
Subspecies: | T. i. cladophila |
Trinomial name | |
Tetrathemis irregularis cladophila | |
Synonyms [2] | |
|
Tetrathemis irregularis cladophila known as the rainforest elf is a subspecies of Tetrathemis irregularis , a dragonfly in the family Libellulidae found only in Australia. [2]
It is a tiny to small, black and yellow dragonfly with a length of 25-30mm and wingspan of 40-50mm. The mostly clear wings are suffused with pale lemon. The abdomen is black with 3 to 4 yellow markings, and there is a metallic sheen on the synthorax. [3]
The genus Tetrathemis extends from Africa and Madagascar to south-east Asia, New Guinea and Australia. Tetrathemis irregularis cladophila has only been recorded coastal and adjacent inland from Cape York Peninsula to Cardwell in Queensland. [4] The taxon has not yet been assessed for the IUCN Red List, but it appears in the Catalogue of Life. [5]
Tetrathemis irregularis cladophila inhabits streams in rainforest.
Diplacodes haematodes, the scarlet percher, is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It occurs throughout Australia, Timor, New Guinea, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia. It is locally common in habitats with hot sunny exposed sites at or near rivers, streams, ponds, and lakes. It often prefers to settle on hot rocks rather than twigs or leaves, and is quite wary. This is a spectacular species of dragonfly, although small in size. The male is brilliant red, the female yellow-ochre. Females have yellow infuscation suffusing the outer wings, while the males have similar colour at the bases of the wings.
Petalura ingentissima, the giant petaltail, has been described as the world's largest dragonfly, with a wingspan of 160 mm. It is found in Queensland, Australia.
Tetrathemis is a genus of dragonflies in the family Libellulidae. Species of Tetrathemis are found in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, New Guinea and Australia.
Orthetrum sabina, the slender skimmer or green marsh hawk, is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It is widespread, being found from south-eastern Europe and North Africa to Japan and south to Australia and Micronesia.
Griseargiolestes albescens is a species of Australian damselfly in the family Megapodagrionidae. It is commonly known as a coastal flatwing.
Synthemiopsis gomphomacromioides, also known as the Tasmanian spotwing, is a species of dragonfly from southern and north-western Tasmania, Australia. It is the only species in the genus Synthemiopsis and has also been placed in its own tribe, Synthemiopsini. R. J. Tillyard, who first described it, considered it intermediate between the Australian genus Synthemis and the Chilean Gomphomacromia. He had material from swamps around Cradle Mountain, at about 4,000 feet (1,200 m) altitude, and from Flowerdale Creek near Wynyard. Synthemiopsis gomphomacromioides flies rapidly over the swamps and often sits on reeds. It occurs together with Synthemis tasmanica, a similar but duller-coloured species.
Rhodothemis lieftincki, common name Red arrow, is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. The genus Rhodothemis is found in India, south-east Asia and Australia. Rhodothemis lieftincki is the only species of the genus seen in Australia. It inhabits coastal and inland streams, rivers, lagoons and ponds in an arc around northern Australia, from about Geraldton in the west to Sydney in the east.
Aethriamanta circumsignata known as the square-spot basker is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It is found in Australia, and New Guinea. The species is usually found near still or sluggish waters.
Hydrobasileus brevistylus is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae, known as the water prince. It is found in Southeast Asia, Indonesia, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Australia.
Nososticta solitaria is an Australian species of damselfly in the family Platycnemididae, commonly known as the fivespot threadtail. It is found only in north-eastern Australia.
Agrionoptera insignis allogenes known as the red swampdragon is a subspecies of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It is found in Australia, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and possibly New Caledonia.
Nannophlebia risi, known as the common archtail, is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It is endemic to Australia.
Austroaeschna speciosa is a species of dragonfly in the family Telephlebiidae, known as the tropical unicorn darner. It is known to be present only in the mountainous regions of north-east Queensland, Australia. It appears very similar to the more widespread Austroaeschna unicornis which inhabits areas in southern Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.
Tetrathemis platyptera, pigmy skimmer, is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It is widespread in many Asian countries and locally common over much of its range.
Hemigomphus comitatus is a species of dragonfly of the family Gomphidae, known as the zebra vicetail. It is endemic to northern Queensland, Australia, where it inhabits streams and rivers.
Tetrathemis irregularis is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae, known as the rainforest elf. It is a tiny to small, slender dragonfly with black and yellow markings. It inhabits rainforest streams in north-eastern Australia and Southeast Asia, including the Aru Islands.
Eusynthemis barbarae is a species of dragonfly of the family Synthemistidae, known as the Mount Lewis tigertail. It is a medium-sized dragonfly with black and yellow markings. It inhabits rainforest streams in north-eastern Australia
Austrophya is a genus of dragonflies in the family Austrocorduliidae, endemic to north-eastern Australia.
Macromia viridescens is a species of dragonfly in the family Macromiidae, known as the rainforest cruiser. It is a large, black to metallic green dragonfly with yellow markings on its thorax, dark metallic green on its abdomen, clear wings and long legs. It is found on Cape York in northern Queensland, Australia, and New Guinea, where it inhabits streams.
Oristicta filicicola is a species of damselfly belonging to the family Isostictidae. Until 2017 it was the only species of the genus Oristicta. Commonly known as a slender wiretail, it is a slender and dull-coloured damselfly of medium-size. It is endemic to north-eastern Australia, where it inhabits streams in rainforests.
Media related to Tetrathemis irregularis cladophila at Wikimedia Commons