Austrogynacantha

Australian duskhawker
Male, Queensland
Female
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Clade: Pancrustacea
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Suborder: Anisoptera
Family: Aeshnidae
Genus: Austrogynacantha
Tillyard, 1908
Species:
A. heterogena
Binomial name
Austrogynacantha heterogena
Tillyard, 1908

Austrogynacantha is a genus of dragonfly in the family Aeshnidae. Austrogynacantha heterogena, commonly known as the Australian duskhawker, is the only known species of this genus which is found in Australia and New Caledonia.

Austrogynacantha heterogena is a medium-sized dragonfly, darkly coloured with bright green or yellow markings. It is a vagrant, is active at dawn and dusk, and inhabits still waters.

Etymology

The genus name Austrogynacantha combines the prefix austro- (from Latin auster, meaning “south wind”, hence “southern”) with Gynacantha, a genus name derived from Greek γυνή (gynē, “woman”) and ἄκανθα (akantha, “thorn”). The name refers to a southern representative of that group.

The species name heterogena is derived from Greek ἕτερος (heteros, “other”) and γένεσις (genesis, “origin”), referring to its placement in a different genus from Gynacantha.

Note

The Australian duskhawker, Austrogynacantha heterogena, should not be confused with almost-similarly named Australasian duskhawker, Anaciaeschna jaspidea, a different species of Aeshnid dragonfly.

References

  1. ↑ Dow, R.A. (2017). "Austrogynacantha heterogena". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017 e.T14254997A14255005. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T14254997A14255005.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Tillyard, R.J. (1908). "On the new genus Austrogynacantha (Neuroptera: Odonata) with description of species". Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. 33: 423–431 [425] – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  3. ↑ "Genus Austrogynacantha Tillyard, 1908". Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study. 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  4. ↑ Paulson, D.; Schorr, M.; Abbott, J.; Bota-Sierra, C.; Deliry, C.; Dijkstra, K.-D.; Lozano, F. "World Odonata List". OdonataCentral. University of Alabama.
  5. 1 2 Theischinger, Günther; Hawking, John (2006). The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Collingwood, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. p. 148. ISBN 978-0-64309-073-6.
  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. pp. 278 [186]. ISBN 978-0-643-05136-2.
  7. ↑ Theischinger, Gunther; Endersby, Ian (2009). Identification Guide to the Australian Odonata. Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW. p. 204. ISBN 978-1-74232-475-3.
  8. 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.