Petalura litorea
{{Short description|Species of dragonfly}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Use Australian English|date=October 2011}}
{{Speciesbox
|name = Coastal petaltail
|status = NT
|status_system = IUCN3.1
|taxon = Petalura litorea
|authority = Theischinger, 1999{{Cite journal|last=Theischinger|first=G.|date=1999|title=A new species of Petalura Leach from south-eastern Queensland (Odonata: Petaluridae)|url=http://www.zobodat.at/pdf/LBB_0031_1_0159-0166.pdf|journal=Linzer Biologische Beiträge|volume=31|issue=1|pages=159–166 [160]}}
|range_map = Petalura litorea distribution map.svg
}}
Petalura litorea, commonly known as the coastal petaltail,{{Cite book|title=The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia|last1=Theischinger|first1=Günther|last2=Hawking|first2=John|publisher=CSIRO Publishing|year=2006|isbn=978-0-64309-073-6|location=Collingwood, Victoria, Australia|pages=108}} is an endangered Australian species of dragonfly from the family Petaluridae.{{cite web |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/online-resources/fauna/afd/taxa/Petalura_litorea |title=Petalura litorea Theischinger, 1999 |date=9 October 2008 |work=Australian Faunal Directory |publisher=Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts}}
This species originates from south-eastern Queensland and prefers swamp land with thick vegetation, often residing on sword grass. The endangered species description is currently recorded in the New South Wales government Endangered Species listing.{{cite web|url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/listings/PetaluraGiganteaAmendment.htm|title=New South Wales Government- Endangered species listing and description|publisher=New South Wales Government|access-date=11 December 2009|location=South Wales}}
Body
Coastal petaltails have distinctive bodies that are unique to their species. The average petaltail has a body around {{convert|10|cm|abbr=on|0}} in length, with wide-set eyes and a black thorax covered in yellow spots; the abdomen follows a similar pattern consisting of black and yellow stripes. Petaltails' pterostigmata are long and thin, running to and from either side of their wings. Female petaltails have rounded wings, while male petaltails have angular wings.
Mating
Male coastal petaltails have unique, bright orange anal appendages called 'petaltails' that are believed to be used to attract a mate. Once a mate has been attracted, the male and female begin mating, the female positioned upwards towards the sky, and the male in an upside down fashion, lasting for an average of thirty minutes. Once the male and female are finished, the female goes off to lay her eggs in a burrow, often near a body of water. Larvae that nest in these caves often are subject to attack from underwater predators that can easily access the burrow from a nearby body of water. If the larvae survive the incubation process the average coastal petaltail's lifespan is approximately 6 years.{{cite web|url=http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_dragons/CoastalPetaltail.htm|title=Coastal Petaltail Dragonflies |publisher=Brisbane Insects|access-date=10 December 2009|location=Australia}}
Gallery
Petalura litorea female wings (34888500282).jpg|Female wings
Petalura litorea male wings (34888504952).jpg|Male wings
See also
References
{{Commons}}
{{Wikispecies}}
{{Reflist}}
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Category:Endemic fauna of Australia