Choristhemis olivei, commonly known as a delicate tigertail,[4] is a species of dragonfly in the family Synthemistidae.[5][3] This species is endemic to north-eastern Queensland, Australia.[6] Choristhemis olivei was first described by Robin Tillyard in 1909 after two males were found.[2] In 1999, one additional male was collected and documented by Günther Theischinger, and more recently, a multitude of Choristhemis olivei were found on Thornton Peak, Cape Tribulation.[7]

Delicate tigertail
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Clade: Pancrustacea
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Infraorder: Anisoptera
Family: Synthemistidae
Genus: Choristhemis
Species:
C. olivei
Binomial name
Choristhemis olivei
(Tillyard, 1909)[2]
Synonyms[3]
  • Synthemis olivei Tillyard, 1909

Larvae

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A sample of larvae taken from the Thornton Peak yielded an accurate description of the Choristhemis olivei. The specimen measured a length of 17.5 millimetres, the width of the head measuring 4.1 mm, and the abdomen length 12.1 mm. The specimen was a mix of gray and brown with a short frontal plate and long, wide setal structures. These characteristics are believed to be unique to this species, mainly because of a small body overall compared to most species of the Synthemistidae family.[7]

Conflict

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Some scientists speculated that Choristhemis olivei and Choristhemis flavoterminata specimens found in Australia were that of the same species. More recently however, multiple scientists came to the conclusion that these two species are not the same because of the difference in the male's anal appendages.[8]

Etymology

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The genus name Choristhemis is derived from the Greek χωρίς (chōris, "without") and the common dragonfly suffix -themis. The name refers to the absence of the small membranous flap at the base of the hindwing.[9]

In 1909, Robin Tillyard named this species olivei, an eponym honouring his friend, the naturalist and collector Edmund Abraham Cumberbatch Olive (1844-1921) of Cooktown, Queensland.[2][9][10]

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See also

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References

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  1. Dow, R.A. (2019). "Choristhemis olivei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019 e.T87538495A87540159. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T87538495A87540159.en. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 Tillyard, R.J. (1909). "On some remarkable Australian Corduliinae, with descriptions of new species". Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. 33 (1908): 737–751 [747] via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  3. 1 2 Paulson, D.; Schorr, M.; Abbott, J.; Bota-Sierra, C.; Deliry, C.; Dijkstra, K.-D.; Lozano, F. "World Odonata List". OdonataCentral. University of Alabama. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  4. Theischinger, Günther; Hawking, John (2021). The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia (2nd ed.). Melbourne, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. p. 406. ISBN 978-1-4863-1374-7.
  5. "Species Choristhemis olivei (Tillyard, 1909)". Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study. 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  6. Moulds, M. S. (1985). "A New Species of Choristhemis Tillyard (Odonata: Synthemistidae)". Australian Journal of Entomology. 24 (2): 113–116. doi:10.1111/j.1440-6055.1985.tb00201.x.
  7. 1 2 Theischinger, Günther (30 June 2003). "The larva of Choristhemis olivei (TILLYARD)" (PDF). Biologiezentrum Linz/Austria. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  8. Theischinger, Günther (30 July 1999). "New and little-known Synthemistidae from Australia (Insecta: Odonata)" (PDF). Austria: Biologiezentrum Linz/Austria. Retrieved 16 December 2009.
  9. 1 2 Endersby, Ian (2012). "Etymology of the Dragonflies (Insecta: Odonata) named by R.J. Tillyard, F.R.S." Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. 134: 1–16.
  10. Hämäläinen, Matti (9 February 2016). "Catalogue of individuals commemorated in the scientific names of extant dragonflies, including lists of all available eponymous species-group and genus-group names – Revised edition" (PDF). International Dragonfly Fund Report. 92: 1–132. ISSN 1435-3393.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)