Brachydiplax denticauda

Brachydiplax denticauda is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae[3] known commonly as the palemouth.[4] It is native to Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands.[5] It lives in habitat with still and slow-moving waters.[1]

Palemouth
Male Brachydiplax denticauda
Female Brachydiplax denticauda

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Infraorder: Anisoptera
Family: Libellulidae
Genus: Brachydiplax
Species:
B. denticauda
Binomial name
Brachydiplax denticauda
(Brauer, 1867)[2]

Males of this species are typical in colour for the genus,[1] being bright powder blue on both the thorax and abdomen. The labrum is pale cream, thus giving the species its common name of palemouth. In northern Australia, it is found coastal and adjacent inland in an arc from the southern Queensland border to Broome, Western Australia.[6]

Brief Description

This species is small in size with a wingspan of 40 to 60 millimeters. Brachydiplax denticauda usually has six antenodal crossveins in the fore-wing and five in the hind-wing whereas the very similar Brachydiplax duivenbodei has seven antenodal crossveins in the fore-wing and six in the hind-wing.[7] Though brightly coloured, the males often go unnoticed by an observer once they land on a lily pad or similar place.[7]

  • Female
  • Mature male
  • An adult male Palemouth has a pale blue tail with a black tip
  • Male puts his tail in the air in an obelisk position that is not vertical
  • Male from behind showing a creamy yellow mark on the outside of his eye rim
  • Close-up of head highlighting the pale mouth
  • Male
  • Female wings
  • Male wings
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References
  1. Kalkman, V. (2009). "Brachydiplax denticauda". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2009: e.T163899A5665437. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009-2.RLTS.T163899A5665437.en.
  2. Brauer, F. (1867). "Bericht über die von Hrn. Dir. Kaup eingesendeten Odonaten. (Schluss.)". Verhandlungen der Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien. 17: 287–302 [301] – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  3. "Species Brachydiplax denticauda (Brauer, 1867)". Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study. 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  4. Brachydiplax denticauda. Archived 2016-02-06 at the Wayback Machine Atlas of Living Australia.
  5. 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.
  6. Theischinger, Gunther; Endersby, Ian (2009). Identification Guide to the Australian Odonata (PDF). Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW. p. 207. ISBN 978 1 74232 475 3.
  7. Theischinger, Gunther; Hawking, John (2006). The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Collingwood Vic.: CSIRO. p. 270. ISBN 0643090738.
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