Petalura ingentissima

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Giant petaltail
013323996 Petalura ingentissima dorsal.jpg
Type specimen held at the Natural History Museum, London

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Infraorder: Anisoptera
Family: Petaluridae
Genus: Petalura
Species:
P. ingentissima
Binomial name
Petalura ingentissima
Petalura ingentissima distribution map.svg

Petalura ingentissima, the giant petaltail, has been described as the world's largest dragonfly, with a wingspan of 160 mm.[3] It is found in Queensland, Australia.[4]

Dr R.J. Tillyard described the giant petaltail in 1908.[2] Its species name is derived from the Latin adjective ingens "huge". It is one of five species in the Australian genus Petalura.[5]

A large heavily built dragonfly,[5] the giant petaltail has a black body with some yellow markings.[6] The female's wingspan can be 158–162 mm and body length 125 mm, the largest dragonfly species in overall dimensions although members of the genus Tetracanthagyna can have longer wings and a larger wing area.[7]

Measuring 5.9-6.3 cm long,[6] the larvae are unusual in that they live in burrows along the river margin and hunt passing prey.[5]

Gallery[]

  • Female wings

  • Male wings

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Dow, R.A. (2017). "Petalura ingentissima". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T87536260A87540079. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T87536260A87540079.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b Tillyard, R. (1908). "On the genus Petalura, with description of a new species". Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. 32: 708–718. doi:10.5962/bhl.part.19584 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  3. ^ "Petalura ingentissima Tillyard". CSIRO website. CSIRO. 19 September 2004. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  4. ^ "Species Petalura ingentissima Tillyard, 1908". Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study. 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  5. ^ a b c "Petaluridae". What Bug is That - The Guide to Australian Insect Families. CSIRO. 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  6. ^ a b Günther Theischinger, John Henry Hawking (2006). The complete field guide to dragonflies of Australia. CSIRO Publishing. p. 110. ISBN 0643090738.
  7. ^ Silsby, Jill (2001). Dragonflies of the World. CSIRO Publishing. p. 37. ISBN 0643065121.
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