''Austrophlebia costalis'', the southern giant darner, is a species of

dragonfly A dragonfly is a flying insect belonging to the infraorder Anisoptera below the order Odonata. About 3,000 extant species of true dragonfly are known. Most are tropical, with fewer species in temperate regions. Loss of wetland habitat threate ...

in the family

Telephlebiidae Telephlebiidae is a family of dragonflies endemic to eastern and south-western Australia. They are medium-sized to very large dragonflies, generally found around streams. The family Telephlebiidae is not recognised in the World Odonata List at t ...

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

to eastern Australia. ''Austrophlebia costalis'' is an enormous dark dragonfly with strong yellow markings on its body and a brown band along the leading edge of its wings. It inhabits streams and may be found on logs in shady areas. This species is believed to be one of the fastest flying odonates, with an old reference claiming to have clocked one at nearly but no modern confirmation.

Gallery

Austrophlebia costalis from below (31902785847).jpg , Male from below Austrophlebia costalis head (31902786697).jpg , Male head Austrophlebia costalis female wings (34208948704).jpg, Female wings Austrophlebia costalis male wings (34208974174).jpg, Male wings

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1856266 Telephlebiidae Odonata of Australia Insects of Australia Endemic fauna of Australia Taxa named by Robert John Tillyard Insects described in 1907

Gallery

See also

References