Austrothemis is a genus of dragonflies in the family Libellulidae,[4] endemic to southern Australia.[5][6] The single known species, Austrothemis nigrescens,[7] is commonly known as the swamp flat-tail.[5] It is endemic to southern Australia, where it inhabits lakes and swamps.[8][6] It is a small dragonfly; the male has a flattened abdomen with black and red markings, and the female has black and yellow markings.[5]
| Austrothemis | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Infraorder: | Anisoptera |
| Family: | Libellulidae |
| Genus: | Austrothemis Ris, 1912[2] |
| Species: | A. nigrescens |
| Binomial name | |
| Austrothemis nigrescens | |
 | |
Etymology
editThe genus name Austrothemis combines the prefix austro- (from Latin auster, meaning “south wind”, hence “southern”) with -themis, from the Greek Θέμις (Themis), the goddess of divine law, order and justice. In early odonate taxonomy, names ending in -themis were introduced by Hagen and were widely used for dragonflies in the family Libellulidae.[9]
The species name nigrescens is derived from the Latin nigresco ("to become black"), referring to the dark colouring of much of the thorax and the markings on the abdomen.[9]
Gallery
edit
Photo of female wings
Photo of male wings
.jpg)
.jpg)
See also
editReferences
edit- ↑ Hawking, J. (2009). "Austrothemis nigrescens". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2009 e.T163536A5612932. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009-2.RLTS.T163536A5612932.en. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- ↑ Ris, F. (1912). "Libellulinen 6". Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Vol. 14. Brussels: Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique. pp. 701–836 [738] – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
- ↑ Martin, R. (1901). "Les odonates du continent australien". Mémoires de la Société Zoologique de France (in French). 14: 220-248 [246] – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
- ↑ "Genus Austrothemis Ris, 1912". Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study. 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
- 1 2 3 Theischinger, Günther; Hawking, John (2006). The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Collingwood, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. p. 282. ISBN 978-0-64309-073-6.
- 1 2 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. p. 278. ISBN 0643051368.
- ↑ "Species Austrothemis nigrescens (Martin, 1901)". Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study. 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
- ↑ Theischinger, Gunther; Endersby, Ian (2009). Identification Guide to the Australian Odonata. Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW. p. 207. ISBN 978-1-74232-475-3.
- 1 2 Endersby, Ian; Fliedner, Heinrich (2015). The Naming of Australia's Dragonflies. Eltham, Victoria, Australia: Busybird Publishing. ISBN 9781925260625.
