Slender skimmer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Orthetrum sabina
Male, Burdwan, West Bengal, India.
Female, Nepal
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Synonyms
Lepthemis divisa Selys, 1878 Libellua leptura Burmeister, 1839 Libellula ampullacea Schneider, 1845 Libellula gibba Fabricius, 1798 Libellula sabina Drury, 1770 Orthetrum nigrescens Bartenev, 1929 Orthetrum viduatum Lieftinck, 1942

Orthetrum sabina, the slender skimmer or green marsh hawk, is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It is widespread, being found from south-eastern Europe and North Africa to Japan and south to Australia and Micronesia.

Description and habitat

It is a medium-sized dragonfly with a wingspan of 60-85mm. Adults are grayish to greenish yellow with black and pale markings and green eyes. Its abdomen is greenish-yellow, marked with black. It is very similar to Orthetrum serapia in appearance, with both species appearing in northern Australia. Pale markings on segment four of the abdomen do not extend into the posterior section when viewed from above on Orthetrum sabina. Females are similar to males in shape, color and size; differing only in sexual characteristics. This dragonfly perches motionless on shrubs and dry twigs for long periods. It voraciously preys on smaller butterflies and dragonflies.

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  Female

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  Male

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  Male viewed from front on

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  Side view of male

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  Face

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  Colouring changes with age

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  Old male with darkened abdomen and thorax

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  Orthetrum sabina feeding Neurothemis fulvia

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  Orthetrum sabina feeding Tetrathemis platyptera

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  Orthetrum sabina feeding Udaspes folus

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  Mating pair

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  in flight

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  Fig 4. From Illustrations of Exotic Entomology, Vol. I. by Dru Drury, 1770.

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  Female wings

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  Male wings

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  Orthetrum sabina_female_at_ vechoochira_kerala_India