Austroaeschna speciosa

Austroaeschna speciosa is a species of dragonfly in the family Telephlebiidae,[3] known as the tropical unicorn darner.[4] It is known to be present only in the mountainous regions of north-east Queensland, Australia. It appears very similar to the more widespread Austroaeschna unicornis (unicorn darner) which inhabits areas in southern Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.[4]

Austroaeschna speciosa
female
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Infraorder: Anisoptera
Family: Telephlebiidae
Genus: Austroaeschna
Species:
A. speciosa
Binomial name
Austroaeschna speciosa

Description

The tropical unicorn darner is a large dragonfly with a body length around 80mm and wing-span of 100mm. The abdomen on segments 3 to 8 is black and reddish-brown, heavily marked with pale yellow spots or patches. The synthorax is reddish-brown with prominent yellow stripes darkly outlined. The prominent eyes are pale grey to green, meeting at the top of the head. The wings are clear and the pterostigma are yellow.

Habitat

The tropical unicorn darner inhabits rocky sections of stream and rivers.[4]

  • Female
  • Female wings
  • Male wings

Notes

The Australian Biological Resources Study has Austroaeschna speciosa listed as a species in the family Telephlebiidae, with the synonym of Austroaeschna (Austroaeschna) speciosa.[3] The Catalogue of Life has the tropical unicorn darner listed as a subspecies of Austroaeschna unicornis in the family Aeshnidae.[5]

References
  1. Dow, R.A. (2017). "Austroaeschna speciosa". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T14255891A59256403. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T14255891A59256403.en.
  2. Sjöstedt, Yngve (1917). "Results of Dr E. Mjöberg's Swedish scientific expeditions to Australia 1910–1913 16. Odonaten". Arkiv för Zoologi (in German). 11 (11): 18 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  3. "Species Austroaeschna (Austroaeschna) speciosa Sjöstedt, 1917". Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study. 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  4. Theischinger, G; Hawking, J (2012). The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Collingwood Vic.: CSIRO. p. 124. ISBN 0643090738.
  5. Catalogue of Life Austroaeschna unicornis speciosa
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