Kingdom Animalia Suborder Anisoptera Phylum Arthropoda Rank Species | Class Insecta Family Libellulidae Genus Rhyothemis Order Odonate | |
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Similar Rhyothemis, Rhyothemis braganza, Rhyothemis graphiptera, Rhyothemis resplendens, Odonate | ||
Rhyothemis princeps, known as the Sapphire flutterer, is a species of dragonfly of the family Libellulidae. The flight of the Rhyothemis genus is usually fluttering leading to the common description of "flutterer" for most species in the genus.
Rhyothemis princeps is found in Australia and New Guinea only. The species is a medium-sized dragonfly (wingspan 70mm, length 40mm) that inhabits a variety of freshwater lakes, ponds, and swamps. It has a dark blue to black abdomen, and its wings are dark, with two or three pale patches on the outer section. Some specimens have dark patches at the wingtips. In sunlight the dark colours can reflect a metallic purplish tinge. In Australia its range is limited to north-east Queensland from Cape York Peninsula to around Rockhampton.