Beautiful petaltail | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Odonata |
Infraorder: | Anisoptera |
Family: | Petaluridae |
Genus: | Petalura |
Species: | P. pulcherrima
|
Binomial name | |
Petalura pulcherrima | |
Petalura pulcherrima is a species of Australian dragonfly in the family Petaluridae,[3] commonly known as a beautiful petaltail.[4] It is a very large and slender dragonfly, mostly black or dark brown with yellow markings and its eyes widely separated on top of its head. It has clear wings and a very long, narrow pterostigma.[4]
Petalura pulcherrima is endemic to coastal rainforests and monsoon-forest streams of Cape York in Queensland, Australia.[5] Like other species of the genus Petalura, its larvae live in burrows beside rainforest streams, with an opening above water level.[6]
Petalura pulcherrima appears similar to Petalura ingentissima which is larger still and is also found in coastal north-eastern Queensland.[4]
Petalura pulcherrima is rarely seen. The IUCN Red List considers it to be a vulnerable species, with fragmentation of its habitat by human interference a major factor.[1]