Delicate tigertail facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Delicate tigertail |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Choristhemis
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| Species: |
olivei
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The delicate tigertail (Choristhemis olivei) is a special type of dragonfly. It belongs to a group of insects called Odonata, which includes both dragonflies and damselflies. This particular dragonfly is part of the Choristhemis genus and the Synthemistidae family.
You can find the delicate tigertail in the north-eastern part of Queensland, Australia. Some scientists believe it might only live in one specific area, like Mount Lewis. This means it is endemic to that place.
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Discovering the Delicate Tigertail
The first delicate tigertails were found in 1908 by a scientist named Robert John Tillyard. He discovered two male dragonflies in Australia. He then wrote about them in 1909.
Later, in 1999, another scientist named Günther Theischinger found and recorded one more male. These dragonflies are also mentioned by the Zoological Society of London.
Recent Discoveries
More recently, two scientists found many delicate tigertails on Thornton Peak. This peak is near Cape Tribulation. One of these scientists even collected some young dragonflies, called larvae, for more study.
What Delicate Tigertail Larvae Look Like
The larvae collected from Thornton Peak helped scientists learn a lot. A typical larva was about 17.5 millimeters long. Its head was about 4.1 mm wide, and its abdomen (the back part of its body) was 12.1 mm long.
These young dragonflies are usually a mix of gray and brown. They have a short frontal plate and long, wide setal structures. These features are thought to be unique to the delicate tigertail. This is because their bodies are quite small compared to other dragonflies in the Synthemistidae family.
Where They Live
Adult delicate tigertails prefer to live in wet tropical areas. They often stay near fresh water and streams. These are the perfect places for them to grow and live.
Telling Species Apart
For a while, some scientists thought the delicate tigertail might be the same as another species. This other species is called the Choristhemis flavoterminata. Both were found in Australia.
However, scientists have now decided they are different species. The main reason is a difference in the male dragonflies' anal appendages. These small body parts help scientists tell the two species apart.
