Tonyosynthemis ofarrelli

Tonyosynthemis ofarrelli, more commonly known as the Slender Tigertail, is a species of Odonata from the family Synthemistidae originating from eastern Queensland, Australia. They are found along the eastern coast of Australia. They tend to live along or near freshwater streams or rivers, which is also where Odonata tend to lay their larvae.^[1]

Life

As adults, Tonyosynthemis ofarrelli are predators, feeding off of smaller dragonflies and larvae. The females lay their larvae along streams.^[1] Samples of larvae and exuviae were collected at multiple sites in the 1990s in north-eastern New South Wales, Australia. The sites consisted of the Timbara River near Billyrimba, the Boonoo Boonoo Falls, and at Wild Bull Park along the Wilson River, also nicknamed "The Bluff". Researchers successfully collected a first instar exuvia and a specimen of a female Odonata along the Wilson River, which matches the description from an earlier specimen of a confirmed male Tonyosynthemis ofarrelli, therefore scientists have concluded that the female specimen collected is that of Tonyosynthemis ofarrelli.^[2]

Female specimen

The collected female specimen had a measurement of a hindwing of approximately 34.2 millimetres (1.35 in), with an abdomen measuring about 36.5 mm (1.44 in). The female's head was dark brown in colour, with a small yellow spot below its eyes. Its wings were lacking the male's yellow median ray, but did include a membrane based that the bottom of the wings that was dirty yellow in colour. The specimen's abdomen was slightly compressed, and a section of its tergum without a yellow dorsal spot, although the rest of its tergum did include various dorsal patches.^[2]

References