Apocordulia

Apocordulia is a genus of dragonflies in the family Austrocorduliidae,[2] endemic to the Murray-Darling Basin in eastern Australia.[3]

Nighthawk
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Odonata
Infraorder:	Anisoptera
Family:	Austrocorduliidae
Genus:	Apocordulia Watson, 1980[1]
Species:	A. macrops
Binomial name
Apocordulia macrops Watson, 1980[1]

Apocordulia is a monotypic genus with only one species, Apocordulia macrops,[4][5] commonly known as a nighthawk.[3] Apocordulia macrops is a medium-sized, dull coloured dragonfly with large eyes.[3] It inhabits inland rivers [6] and flies at dawn and dusk.[7]

Etymology

The word Apocordulia is derived from two words: apo from the Greek ἀπό meaning from or away, and Cordulia the genus of dragonfly. Tony Watson described the dragonfly genus Apocordulia as appearing different to the normal appearance of a Cordulia dragonfly.[1][8]

The species name macrops is derived from two Greek words makros (μακρός) meaning long, and ops (ὤψ) meaning eye, describing the long eye seam.[1][8]

Gallery

• 
  Female Apocordulia macrops wings
• 
  Male Apocordulia macrops wings

Note about family

There are differing views as to the family that Apocordulia best belongs to:

• It is considered to be part of the family Austrocorduliidae at the Australian Faunal Directory[2]
• It is considered to be part of the family Synthemistidae in the World Odonata List at the Slater Museum of Natural History[4]
• It is considered to be part of the family Corduliidae at Wikispecies

See also

• List of Odonata species of Australia

References

1. Watson, J.A.L. (1980). "Apocordulia macrops, a new crepuscular gomphomacromiine dragonfly from south-eastern Australia (Odonata: Corduliidae)". Journal of the Australian Entomological Society. 19 (4): 287–292 [287]. doi:10.1111/j.1440-6055.1980.tb00988.x.
2. "Genus Apocordulia Watson, 1980". Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study. 2012. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
3. Theischinger, Günther; Hawking, John (2006). The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Collingwood, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. p. 228. ISBN 978-0-64309-073-6.
4. Schorr, Martin; Paulson, Dennis. "World Odonata List". Slater Museum of Natural History. University of Puget Sound. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
5. "Species Apocordulia macrops Watson, 1980". Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study. 2012. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
6. Theischinger, Gunther; Endersby, Ian (2009). Identification Guide to the Australian Odonata (PDF). Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW. p. 241. ISBN 978-1-74232-475-3.
7. Watson, J.A.L.; Theischinger, G.; Abbey, H.M. (1991). The Australian Dragonflies: A Guide to the Identification, Distributions and Habitats of Australian Odonata. Melbourne: CSIRO. ISBN 0643051368.
8. Endersby, I. (2012). "Watson and Theischinger: the etymology of the dragonfly (Insecta: Odonata) names which they published". Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales. 145 (443 & 444): 34–53. ISSN 0035-9173 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.