| Austrothemis | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Infraorder: | Anisoptera |
| Superfamily: | Libelluloidea |
| Family: | Libellulidae |
| Genus: | Austrothemis Ris, 19123 |
| Species: | A. nigrescens
|
| Binomial name | |
| Austrothemis nigrescens | |
| |
Austrothemis is a genus of dragonflies in the family Libellulidae,4 endemic to southern Australia.56 The single known species, Austrothemis nigrescens,7 is commonly known as the swamp flat-tail.5 It is endemic to southern Australia, where it inhabits lakes and swamps.86 It is a small dragonfly; the male has a flattened abdomen with black and red markings, and the female has black and yellow markings.5
Etymology
The genus name Austrothemis combines the prefix austro- (from Latin auster, meaning “south wind”, hence “southern”) with -themis, from the Greek Θέμις (Themis), the goddess of divine law, order and justice. In early odonate taxonomy, names ending in -themis were introduced by Hagen and were widely used for dragonflies in the family Libellulidae.9
The species name nigrescens is derived from the Latin nigresco ("to become black"), referring to the dark colouring of much of the thorax and the markings on the abdomen.9
Gallery
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Photo of female wings -
Photo of male wings
References
References
- Hawking, J. (2009). "Austrothemis nigrescens". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2009 e.T163536A5612932. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009-2.RLTS.T163536A5612932.en. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- Martin, R. (1901). "Les odonates du continent australien". Mémoires de la Société Zoologique de France (in French). 14: 220-248 [246] – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
- Ris, F. (1912). "Libellulinen 6". Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Vol. 14. Brussels: Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique. pp. 701–836 [738] – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
- "Genus Austrothemis Ris, 1912". Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study. 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
- Theischinger, Günther; Hawking, John (2006). The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Collingwood, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. p. 282. ISBN 978-0-64309-073-6.
- 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. p. 278. ISBN 0643051368.
- "Species Austrothemis nigrescens (Martin, 1901)". Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study. 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
- Theischinger, Gunther; Endersby, Ian (2009). Identification Guide to the Australian Odonata. Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW. p. 207. ISBN 978-1-74232-475-3.
- Endersby, Ian; Fliedner, Heinrich (2015). The Naming of Australia's Dragonflies. Eltham, Victoria, Australia: Busybird Publishing. ISBN 9781925260625.