Rhyothemis princeps

Rhyothemis princeps, known as the sapphire flutterer,[3] is a species of dragonfly of the family Libellulidae.[4][5] The flight of the genus Rhyothemis is usually fluttering, leading to the common description of "flutterer" for most species in the genus.

Rhyothemis princeps
Female
Male
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Infraorder: Anisoptera
Family: Libellulidae
Genus: Rhyothemis
Species:
R. princeps
Binomial name
Rhyothemis princeps
Kirby, 1894[2]

Rhyothemis princeps is found in Australia and New Guinea only. It is a medium-sized dragonfly (wingspan 70mm, length 40mm) that inhabits a variety of freshwater lakes, ponds, and swamps. It has a dark blue to black abdomen, and its wings are dark, with two or three pale patches on the outer section. Males have dark patches extending to their wingtips, whereas females have clear wingtips. In sunlight the dark colours can reflect a metallic purplish tinge. In Australia its range is limited to north-eastern Queensland from Cape York Peninsula to around Rockhampton.[3]

  • Male side view
  • Male viewed from above
  • Male in Cairns
  • Female wings
  • Male wings

See also

References
  1. Dow, R.A. (2017). "Rhyothemis princeps". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T163880A87529355. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T163880A87529355.en.
  2. Kirby, W.F. (1894). "On a small collection of Odonata (dragonflies) from Queensland, with descriptions of five new species". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 6. 14: 15–21 [16]. doi:10.1080/00222939408677758 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  3. Theischinger, Gunther; Hawking, John (2006). The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Collingwood Vic.: CSIRO. p. 286. ISBN 0643090738.
  4. "Species Rhyothemis princeps Kirby, 1894". Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study. 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
  5. Schorr, Martin; Paulson, Dennis. "World Odonata List". Slater Museum of Natural History. University of Puget Sound. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
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