General Description
A small damselfly. Males mostly blue; thorax dark blue with broad white or pale blue longitudinal bands; abdomen pale blue with dark blue annulations at each segment; legs dark blue; wings clear. Females with similar patterning, but with a pale brown colour scheme. Wingspan around 3 cm.
Biology
The brilliant colour of the Blue Ringtail male makes them easy to spot, while the brown females are more nondescript. Like all damselflies, the larvae are aquatic predators of other insect larvae, while the adults are aerial hunters of other small insects.
Distribution
Across Australia.
Habitat
Found throughout much of Australia, along the banks of still water, such as ponds, riverine pools, and lakes.
More Information
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Animal Type
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Animal SubType
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Brief Id
Small damselfly. Males mostly blue; females mostly brown.
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Colours
Blue, Brown
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Maximum Size
3 cm
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Habitats
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Diet
Carnivore
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Endemicity
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Commercial
No
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Conservation Statuses
CITES: Not listed, FFG Threatened List: Not listed, EPBC Act 1999: Not listed, IUCN Red List: Least Concern
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Taxon Name
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Scientific Author
(Selys, 1862)
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Common Name
Blue Ringtail
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Kingdom
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Phylum
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Subphylum
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Class
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Order
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Suborder
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Superfamily
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Family
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Genus
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Species Name
annulosus