The metallic ringtail (Austrolestes cingulatus) is an Australian damselfly in the family Lestidae,[4][5] It is widely distributed in Tasmania, Victoria and eastern New South Wales.[6] It is a thin, medium-sized damselfly with a green and gold or bluish green and gold coloration. Each abdominal segment is marked by a pale "ring"; this, combined with its glossy metallic coloration, give it its common name of metallic ringtail.
| Metallic ringtail | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Male | |
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| Female | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Suborder: | Zygoptera |
| Family: | Lestidae |
| Genus: | Austrolestes |
| Species: | A. cingulatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Austrolestes cingulatus (Burmeister, 1839)[2] | |
 | |
| Synonyms[3] | |
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It is active through October to March in still-water bodies such as rivers, lakes, ponds, swamps, and alpine bogs, being usually found amongst vegetation.
Etymology
editThe genus name Austrolestes combines the prefix austro- (from Latin auster, meaning “south wind”, hence “southern”) with Lestes, a genus name derived from Greek λῃστής (lēstēs, “robber”).[7]
The species name cingulatus is derived from the Latin cingulum ("girdle" or "sword-belt") and the suffix -atus ("provided with"), referring to rings at the bases of the abdominal segments.[8]
Gallery
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Mating pair
Female wings
Male wings
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See also
editReferences
edit- ↑ Dow, R.A. (2017). "Austrolestes cingulatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017 e.T87534172A87539929. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T87534172A87539929.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ↑ Burmeister, Hermann (1839). Handbuch der Entomologie (in Latin and German). Berlin: T.C.F. Enslin. pp. 805–862 [823] – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
- ↑ Paulson, D.; Schorr, M.; Abbott, J.; Bota-Sierra, C.; Deliry, C.; Dijkstra, K.-D.; Lozano, F. "World Odonata List". OdonataCentral. University of Alabama. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
- ↑ "Species Austrolestes cingulatus (Burmeister, 1839)". Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study. 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
- ↑ Theischinger, Günther; Hawking, John (2006). The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Collingwood, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. p. 34. ISBN 978-0-64309-073-6.
- ↑ Theischinger, Gunther; Endersby, Ian (2009). Identification Guide to the Australian Odonata (PDF). Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW. p. 205. ISBN 978-1-74232-475-3.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Endersby, Ian; Fliedner, Heinrich (2015). The Naming of Australia's Dragonflies. Eltham, Victoria, Australia: Busybird Publishing. ISBN 9781925260625.
