Petalura pulcherrima

{{Short description|Species of dragonfly}}

{{Speciesbox

|name=Beautiful petaltail

|image=

|genus=Petalura

|species=pulcherrima

|authority=Tillyard, 1913{{Cite journal|last=Tillyard|first=R.J.|year=1912|title=On some Australian Anisoptera, with descriptions of new species|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2903844|journal=Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales|volume=37|pages=582|via=Biodiversity Heritage Library}}

|status=VU

|status_system=IUCN3.1

|status_ref={{cite iucn |author=Dow, R.A. |date=2019 |title=Petalura pulcherrima |volume=2019 |page=e.T16712A87528690 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T16712A87528690.en |access-date=17 November 2021}}

|range_map=Petalura pulcherrima distribution map.svg

}}

File:Petalura pulcherrima Tillyard plate LXII.jpg:

11. Colour pattern of abdomen

12. Inferior appendage from below

13. Colour pattern of head from in front

14. Colour pattern of thorax from above]]

Petalura pulcherrima is a species of Australian dragonfly in the family Petaluridae,{{Cite web|url=https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/Petalura_pulcherrima|title=Species Petalura pulcherrima Tillyard, 1913|date=2012|website=Australian Faunal Directory|publisher=Australian Biological Resources Study|access-date=28 January 2017}}

commonly known as a beautiful 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=110}}

It is a very large and slender dragonfly, mostly black or dark brown with yellow markings and its eyes widely separated on top of its head. It has clear wings and a very long, narrow pterostigma.

Petalura pulcherrima is endemic to coastal rainforests and monsoon-forest streams of Cape York in Queensland, Australia.{{cite book|title=Identification Guide to the Australian Odonata|last2=Endersby|first2=Ian|date=2009|publisher=Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW|isbn=978-1-74232-475-3|pages=233|last1=Theischinger|first1=Gunther|url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/publications/09730AustOdonata.pdf}}

Like other species of the genus Petalura, its larvae live in burrows beside rainforest streams, with an opening above water level.{{Cite book|title=The Australian Dragonflies: A Guide to the Identification, Distributions and Habitats of Australian Odonata|last1=Watson|first1=J.A.L.|last2=Theischinger|first2=G.|last3=Abbey|first3=H.M.|publisher=CSIRO|year=1991|isbn=0643051368|location=Melbourne}}

Petalura pulcherrima appears similar to Petalura ingentissima which is larger still and is also found in coastal north-eastern Queensland.

Petalura pulcherrima is rarely seen. The IUCN Red List considers it to be a vulnerable species, with fragmentation of its habitat by human interference a major factor.