Australian cruiser facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Australian cruiser
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Odonata
Infraorder:	Anisoptera
Family:	Macromiidae
Genus:	Macromia
Species:	M. tillyardi
Binomial name
Macromia tillyardi Martin, 1906
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The Australian cruiser (Macromia tillyardi) is a type of dragonfly. It belongs to the family Macromiidae.

This dragonfly is quite large. It has a body that can be black or a shiny metallic green. You can spot bright yellow marks on its belly. Its wings are clear, and it has long legs. You can find the Australian cruiser in northern Australia. It likes to live near streams and pools of water.

Discovering the Australian Cruiser

Dragonflies have scientific names, just like other animals. The Australian cruiser is named Macromia tillyardi. This name honors a scientist named Robin Tillyard.

Who Found This Dragonfly?

A scientist named Robin Tillyard found the first Australian cruiser dragonfly. He collected it in January 1905. He was in a place called Kuranda, in North Queensland, Australia.

He found three female dragonflies. These were very special insects. Robin Tillyard wanted to make sure the world knew about this new species.

How It Got Its Name

Robin Tillyard sent his description of the dragonfly to another scientist. This was René Martin. Martin was working on a book about dragonflies. Tillyard wanted his new discovery to be in Martin's book.

Tillyard wrote his own description of the dragonfly. He published it in November 1906. Martin's book came out a little later, in January 1907. So, Tillyard's description was actually published first!

Gallery

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  Look closely at the wings of a female Australian cruiser.

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  Here are the wings of a male Australian cruiser.