Petalura pulcherrima

Petalura pulcherrima is a species of Australian dragonfly in the family Petaluridae,[3] commonly known as a beautiful petaltail.[4] It is a very large and slender dragonfly, mostly black or dark brown with yellow markings and its eyes widely separated on top of its head. It has clear wings and a very long, narrow pterostigma.[4]

Beautiful petaltail
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Infraorder: Anisoptera
Family: Petaluridae
Genus: Petalura
Species:
P. pulcherrima
Binomial name
Petalura pulcherrima
Original drawings by R.J. Tillyard:
11. Colour pattern of abdomen
12. Inferior appendage from below
13. Colour pattern of head from in front
14. Colour pattern of thorax from above

Petalura pulcherrima is endemic to coastal rainforests and monsoon-forest streams of Cape York in Queensland, Australia.[5] Like other species of the genus Petalura, its larvae live in burrows beside rainforest streams, with an opening above water level.[6]

Petalura pulcherrima appears similar to Petalura ingentissima which is larger still and is also found in coastal north-eastern Queensland.[4]

Petalura pulcherrima is rarely seen. The IUCN Red List considers it to be a vulnerable species, with fragmentation of its habitat by human interference a major factor.[1]

See also

References
  1. Dow, R.A. 2019. Petalura pulcherrima. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T16712A87528690. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T16712A87528690.en. Downloaded on 26 July 2019.
  2. Tillyard, R.J. (1912). "On some Australian Anisoptera, with descriptions of new species". Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. 37: 582 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  3. "Species Petalura pulcherrima Tillyard, 1913". Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study. 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  4. Theischinger, Günther; Hawking, John (2006). The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Collingwood, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. p. 110. 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. 233. 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 0643051368.
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