Orthetrum caledonicum
| Blue skimmer | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Top view of an adult male in Victoria Park, Sydney. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Hexapoda |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Suborder: | Anisoptera |
| Family: | Libellulidae |
| Genus: | Orthetrum |
| Species: | O. caledonicum |
| Binomial name | |
| Orthetrum caledonicum (Brauer, 1865) | |
Orthetrum caledonicum, the blue skimmer, is a common Australian dragonfly.
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.[1]
Gallery
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Adult in Margaret River, Western Australia
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Male blue skimmer side aspect, hind wing damage
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Mature female
References
External links
Media related to Orthetrum caledonicum at Wikimedia Commons