Bicoloured skimmer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bicoloured skimmer |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Infraorder: | Anisoptera |
| Family: | Libellulidae |
| Genus: | Notolibellula |
| Species: |
N. bicolor
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| Binomial name | |
| Notolibellula bicolor Theischinger & Watson, 1977
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The bicoloured skimmer (scientific name: Notolibellula bicolor) is a fascinating type of dragonfly. It belongs to the Libellulidae family, which is a large group of dragonflies. This special insect is the only known species in its genus, Notolibellula.
You can find the bicoloured skimmer living across northern Australia. It likes to hang out near rock-holes and calm, still waters. This dragonfly is a medium-sized insect. The male bicoloured skimmer is quite striking, with a bluish body (called a thorax) and a bright red tip to its tail (abdomen).
What Makes It Bicoloured?
The name bicolor means "two colours," and it perfectly describes this dragonfly! It gets its name from the two very bright colours you can see on the male: a vivid blue and a striking red. These colours were first noticed by a scientist named Tony Watson in 1968, when he saw them in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.
Where Does It Live?
The bicoloured skimmer calls northern Australia home. It prefers places with still water, like quiet ponds, slow-moving streams, or even natural rock-holes that collect water. These watery spots are perfect for dragonflies because they need water to lay their eggs and for their young (called nymphs) to grow.
Gallery
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Close-up of a male bicoloured skimmer's wings.
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