''Petalura'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of very large

dragonflies 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 threa ...

in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Petaluridae The petaltails of the family Petaluridae are apparently the most ancient of the extant true dragonflies (infraorder Anisoptera), having fossil members from as early as the Jurassic (over 150 million years ago). Modern petalurids include only 11 ...

. Species of ''Petalura'' are brown or black with yellow markings and usually clear wings. The anal appendages of the males are broad and leaf-like giving them their common name of petaltails. They are

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-western and eastern Australia.

Species

The genus includes the following species: *''

Petalura gigantea ''Petalura gigantea'', the giant dragonfly or south-eastern petaltail, is one of the world's largest dragonflies, with the males having an abdomen 6-7.5 cm long and a wingspan up to 11 cm, while females have an abdomen 8-9.5 cm lo ...

'' - South-eastern petaltail *''

Petalura hesperia ''Petalura hesperia'', more commonly known as the western petaltail or giant western dragonfly, is a species of dragonfly in the family Petaluridae, originating from Western Australia. It resides near the Southwest Australia, south-western coas ...

'' - Western petaltail *''

Petalura ingentissima ''Petalura ingentissima'', the giant petaltail, has been described as the world's largest dragonfly, with a wingspan of 160 mm. It is found in Queensland, Australia. Dr R.J. Tillyard described the giant petaltail in 1908. Its species name i ...

'' - Giant petaltail *'' Petalura litorea'' - Coastal petaltail *'' Petalura pulcherrima'' - Beautiful petaltail

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2793038 Petaluridae Anisoptera genera Odonata of Australia Endemic fauna of Australia Taxa named by William Elford Leach Taxonomy articles created by Polbot