Kingdom Animalia Class Insecta Family Aeshnidae Rank Species | Phylum Arthropoda Order Odonata Genus Austroaeschna | |
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Similar Tasmanian darner, Alpine darner, Austroaeschna, Austrogomphus, Diplacodes haematodes | ||
Austroaeschna speciosa is a species of dragonfly in the family Aeshnidae commonly known as the tropical unicorn darner. It is known to be present only in the mountainous regions of north-east Queensland, Australia. It is very similar to the more widespread Austroaeschna unicornis (unicorn darner) which inhabits areas in southern Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.
Contents
Description
The tropical unicorn darner is a large dragonfly with a body length around 80mm and wing-span of 100mm. The abdomen on segments 3 to 8 is black and reddish-brown, heavily marked with pale yellow spots or patches. The synthorax is reddish-brown with prominent yellow stripes darkly outlined. The prominent eyes are pale grey to green, meeting at the top of the head. The wings are clear and the pterostigma are yellow.
Habitat
The tropical unicorn darner inhabits rocky sections of stream and rivers.