''Hemiphlebia mirabilis'', commonly known as the ancient greenling, is a species of damselfly, the only living species of the genus ''Hemiphlebia'' and the family Hemiphlebiidae. It is very small with a long, metallic-green body and clear wings. It is

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 south-eastern

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

. Its natural

swamp A swamp is a forested wetland.Keddy, P.A. 2010. Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation (2nd edition). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 497 p. Swamps are considered to be transition zones because both land and water play a role in ...

habitat In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...

is threatened by

habitat loss Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss and habitat reduction) is the process by which a natural habitat becomes incapable of supporting its native species. The organisms that previously inhabited the site are displaced or dead, thereby ...

. The oldest representatives of the family date to the Late

Jurassic The Jurassic ( ) is a Geological period, geologic period and System (stratigraphy), stratigraphic system that spanned from the end of the Triassic Period million years ago (Mya) to the beginning of the Cretaceous Period, approximately Mya. The J ...

Distribution and habitat

The ancient greenling has been recorded from a small number of scattered sites, including on

King Island King Island, Kings Island or King's Island may refer to: Australia * King Island (Queensland) * King Island, at Wellington Point, Queensland * King Island (Tasmania) ** King Island Council, the local government area that contains the Tasmanian is ...

and in Mount William,

Tasmania ) , nickname = , image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdi ...

; in Wilsons Promontory National Park and near Yea, Victoria; and in

Piccaninnie Ponds Conservation Park Piccaninnie Ponds Conservation Park, formerly the Piccaninnie Ponds National Park, is a protected area of located in southeastern South Australia near Mount Gambier. Description The Piccaninnie Ponds Conservation Park is located in the south ...

in south-eastern

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...

. Its recorded habitat includes permanent freshwater ponds, riverine lagoons and swamps that may dry out seasonally. A favoured site discovered in 2008, Long Swamp in the

Discovery Bay Coastal Park The Discovery Bay Coastal Park is a linear protected area of coastal land in western Victoria, south-eastern Australia. The park extends along the coast of Discovery Bay from Cape Nelson north-westwards for to the border with South Australia ...

of south-western Victoria, contains extensive areas of twig-rush (''

Baumea ''Baumea'' is a genus of the sedge family, which includes around 30 species native to Madagascar and the Pacific Islands, with 15 species in Australia. All are perennial rhizomatous herbs, with leaves and stems very similar in appearance. The in ...

'' sp.) which is seasonally flooded but dries out by late summer

Conservation

The greenling's conservation status was raised from Vulnerable to

Endangered An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and inva ...

in 2008 because of the limited area of habitat occupied, as well as the small and scattered character of the populations, at least some of which were in decline.

Gallery

Hemiphlebia mirabilis female wings (33985042264).jpg , Female wings Hemiphlebia mirabilis male wings (33985048874).jpg , Male wings

References

{{Taxonbar , from1 = Q4040570 , from2=Q3286015 , from3 = Q306302 Odonata of Australia Insects of Australia Endangered fauna of Australia Endemic fauna of Australia Taxa named by Edmond de Sélys Longchamps Insects described in 1869 Damselflies Lestoidea Taxonomy articles created by Polbot