Austrogomphus is a genus of dragonflies in the family Gomphidae,[5] endemic to Australia.[6] Species of Austrogomphus are tiny to medium-sized dragonflies, black in colour with yellowish markings.[7] They are commonly known as hunters.

Austrogomphus
Austrogomphus guerini
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Infraorder: Anisoptera
Family: Gomphidae
Genus: Austrogomphus
Selys, 1854[1][2]
Subgenera[3][4]
  • Austrogomphus (Austrogomphus) Selys, 1854[2]
  • Austrogomphus (Pleiogomphus) Watson, 1991[3]

Species

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Pair of Austrogomphus guerini mating

The genus Austrogomphus includes the following species[8] in two subgenera:[4]

Subgenus Austrogomphus

Subgenus Pleiogomphus

Recently the following species were moved from the genus Austrogomphus to Austroepigomphus:

Etymology

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The genus name Austrogomphus is derived from two words: the Latin word auster meaning south wind, hence south; and the Greek word gomphus (γόμφος) meaning peg or nail. It is suggested that the shape of the male tail is generally like that of a bolt used in ship building.[9] Gomphus is also a genus of dragonfly, with some similarities to Austrogomphus, both belonging to the much larger family group, Gomphidae. In 1854 Edmond de Sélys Longchamps named the sub-genus Austrogomphus probably as a southern or Australian component of the gomphid group.[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Selys-Longchamps, E. (1854). Monographie des caloptérygines (in French). Brussels and Leipzig: C. Muquardt. p. 430. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.60461 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  2. ^ a b Selys-Longchamps, E. (1854). "Synopsis des Gomphines". Bulletin de la Classe des Science, Académie Royale de Belgique (in French). 21 (7): 23–112 [63] – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  3. ^ a b Watson, J.A.L. (1991). "The Australian Gomphidae (Odonata)". Invertebrate Taxonomy. 5: 289-441 [337]. doi:10.1071/IT9910289 – via CSIRO publishing.
  4. ^ a b "Names list for Austrogomphus Selys, 1854". Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study. 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  5. ^ "Genus Austrogomphus Selys, 1854". Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study. 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ Günther Theischinger; John Hawking (2006). The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. CSIRO Publishing. ISBN 0-643-09073-8.
  8. ^ Schorr, Martin; Paulson, Dennis; Deliry, Cyrille. "World Odonata List". Puget Sound Museum of Natural History. University of Puget Sound. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  9. ^ 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 [37]. doi:10.5962/p.146542. ISSN 0035-9173 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.