Orthetrum caledonicum
| Blue skimmer | |
|---|---|
| |
| Male | |
| |
| Female | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Infraorder: | Anisoptera |
| Superfamily: | Libelluloidea |
| Family: | Libellulidae |
| Genus: | Orthetrum |
| Species: | O. caledonicum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Orthetrum caledonicum | |
| |
| Synonyms[3] | |
| |
Orthetrum caledonicum, the blue skimmer,[4] is a common Australian dragonfly in the family Libellulidae.[5][3]
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.[4]
Etymology
[edit]The genus name Orthetrum is derived from the Greek ὀρθός (orthos, "straight") and ἦτρον (ētron, "abdomen"), referring to the parallel-sided abdomen of the genus.[6]
The species name caledonicum is named for New Caledonia, where the original specimens of the species were collected.[6]
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
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
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 Paulson, D.; Schorr, M.; Abbott, J.; Bota-Sierra, C.; Deliry, C.; Dijkstra, K.-D.; Lozano, F. "World Odonata List". OdonataCentral. University of Alabama. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
- ^ a b Theischinger, Gunther; Hawking, John (2006). The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Collingwood Vic.: CSIRO. p. 266. ISBN 0-643-09073-8.
- ^ "Species Orthetrum caledonicum (Brauer, 1865)". Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study. 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
- ^ a b Endersby, Ian; Fliedner, Heinrich (2015). The Naming of Australia's Dragonflies. Eltham, Victoria, Australia: Busybird Publishing. ISBN 9781925260625.
Media related to Orthetrum caledonicum at Wikimedia Commons