Australian Emperor Dragonfly vs Petaltail Dragonfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Australian Emperor Dragonfly Petaltail Dragonfly
Scientific Name Anax papuensis Tachopteryx thoreyi
Order Odonata Odonata
Family Aeshnidae Petaluridae
Size Body 7-8 cm; wingspan 10-11 cm 70-80 mm
Habitat Ponds & Lakes Indoors
Diet Predators Predators
Regions Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Australian Emperor Dragonfly

A large, powerful dragonfly with a green thorax and blue-spotted abdomen. It is a strong flier commonly seen patrolling ponds and lakes across Australia.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the few dragonfly species to have naturally colonized New Zealand by flying across the Tasman Sea.

Petaltail Dragonfly

A primitive dragonfly that perches on tree trunks and has bog-dwelling larvae.

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Did You Know?

It belongs to one of the most ancient dragonfly families, largely unchanged for 150 million years.