Pale-spotted emperor facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pale-spotted emperor
Anax guttatus from French Polynesia. Male
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Synonyms
List Aeschna guttata Burmeister, 1839 Anax goliathus Fraser, 1922 Anax magnus Rambur, 1842

Anax guttatus, the pale-spotted emperor or lesser green emperor, is a dragonfly of the family Aeshnidae.

Distribution

Anax guttatus is widespread from India to Japan and Australia and Pacific Ocean Islands. It is found in Northern Australia, Africa, Bangladesh, China (Guangdong, Guangxi, Hong Kong, Hainan), Indonesia, India, Japan, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Malaysia, Philippines, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, New Caledonia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Seychelles, Tonga and Vanuatu.

Habitat

This species mainly occurs in open ponds, but also in various habitats, especially with slowly flowing or standing freshwater. It is also present in urban areas.

Description

It is a big dragonfly with blue eyes, pale green thorax and dark brown abdomen with bright blue-green markings on the sides. It can reach a wingspan of about 11 centimetres (4.3 in) and a body length of about 8 centimetres (3.1 in). Forewings are clear, the inner-half of the hindwings is brown, while the outer-half is clear. Segment 1 and sides of segment 2 of the abdomen are pale green. The dorsum of segment 2 is blue. Segment 3 is pale green on the sides with a triangular blue spot on the dorsum. Segments 4 to 7 are with a pair of baso-lateral, postjugal, and apical spots, all in bright orange. The number of spots are lesser in segment 8 to 10. Anal appendages are dark brown; the middle of the inner margins of the superiors have a projection like a straight edged shelf. Females is similar to the male; but the brown patch on the hind-wing may pale or absent. The blue on the dorsum of segment 2 will be broken up into four by a narrow brown mid-dorsal carina and a transverse line lying midway to form a cross like mark. Anal appendages are very broad and shaped like lance head.

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  Male

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  Female

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  In flight

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  Female. Museum specimen

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  Dorsal view of the right wings of a male