Blue ringtail
| Blue ringtail | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Male, Tasmania, Australia | |
 | |
| Female, Tasmania, Australia | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Suborder: | Zygoptera |
| Family: | Lestidae |
| Genus: | Austrolestes |
| Species: | A. annulosus |
| Binomial name | |
| Austrolestes annulosus | |
 | |
| Synonyms[3] | |
| |
The blue ringtail (Austrolestes annulosus) is an Australian damselfly.[1] It is found on most of the continent.
Taxonomy
[edit]The blue ringtail was first described by Edmond de Sélys Longchamps in 1862.[4]
Description
[edit]The abdomen is 3 cm long.[5] It can easily be confused with Austrocoenagrion lyelli or Caliagrion billinghursti, but can be differentiated through dorsal patterns. They are a thin, medium-sized damselfly with varying coloration, which depends on maturity and temperature. However most are a striking blue with minimal black markings. Females are slightly more robust than males, and have a black and white/pale blue coloration.
Distribution and habitat
[edit]It is widely distributed in most of Australia, except for the northern and north-eastern parts.[4] It is active through September to April in still water bodies such as riverine pools, lakes and ponds, including temporary pools.
Etymology
[edit]The genus name Austrolestes combines the prefix austro- (from Latin auster, meaning “south wind”, hence “southern”) with Lestes, a genus name derived from Greek λῃστής (lēstēs, “robber”).[6]
The species name annulosus is derived from the Latin annulus ("ring") and the suffix -osus ("abounding in"), referring to the broad ring on the second abdominal segment.[7]
Gallery
[edit]
Male
Mating pair
Female wings
Male wings
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References
[edit]- 1 2 Dow, R.A. (2017). "Austrolestes annulosus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017 e.T87534133A87539919. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T87534133A87539919.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ↑ Selys-Longchamps, E. (1862). "Synopsis des Agrionines, seconde légion: Lestes". Bulletin de la Classe des Science, Académie Royale de Belgique. 2 (in French). 13: 288–338 [332].
- ↑ Paulson, D.; Schorr, M.; Abbott, J.; Bota-Sierra, C.; Deliry, C.; Dijkstra, K.-D.; Lozano, F. "World Odonata List". OdonataCentral. University of Alabama. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
- 1 2 "Species Austrolestes annulosus (Selys, 1862)". Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study. 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
- ↑ Daley, Elizabeth; Daley, Anthony (2007). Wings: an introduction to Tasmania's winged insects. Riffles Pty. Ltd. p. 7. ISBN 978-0-9804006-2-5.
- ↑ Endersby, Ian (2012). "Etymology of the Dragonflies (Insecta: Odonata) named by R.J. Tillyard, F.R.S." Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. 134: 1–16.
- ↑ Endersby, Ian; Fliedner, Heinrich (2015). The Naming of Australia's Dragonflies. Eltham, Victoria, Australia: Busybird Publishing. ISBN 9781925260625.
Media related to Austrolestes annulosus at Wikimedia Commons