Biology:Orthetrum caledonicum
| Blue skimmer | |
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| Male | |
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| Female | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Infraorder: | Anisoptera |
| Family: | Libellulidae |
| Genus: | Orthetrum |
| Species: | O. caledonicum
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| Binomial name | |
| Orthetrum caledonicum (Brauer, 1865)[2]
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Orthetrum caledonicum, the blue skimmer,[3] is a common Australia n dragonfly in the family Libellulidae.[4][5]
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]
Gallery
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
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References
- ↑ 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. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/83369732/83383908. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ↑ Brauer, Friedrich (1865). "Dritter Bericht über die auf der Weltfahrt der kais. Fregatte Novara gesammelten Libellulinen" (in German). Verhandlungen der Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 15: 501–512 [505]. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/16400946.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Theischinger, Gunther; Hawking, John (2006). The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Collingwood Vic.: CSIRO. p. 266. ISBN 0643090738.
- ↑ "Species Orthetrum caledonicum (Brauer, 1865)". Australian Biological Resources Study. 2012. https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/Orthetrum_caledonicum.
- ↑ "World Odonata List". University of Puget Sound. https://www.pugetsound.edu/academics/academic-resources/slater-museum/biodiversity-resources/dragonflies/world-odonata-list2/. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
External links
Wikidata ☰ Q2381869 entry
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