Twelve-Spotted Skimmer vs Australian Emperor Dragonfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Twelve-Spotted Skimmer | Australian Emperor Dragonfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Libellula pulchella | Anax papuensis |
| Order | Odonata | Odonata |
| Family | Libellulidae | Aeshnidae |
| Size | 65-75 mm wingspan | Body 7-8 cm; wingspan 10-11 cm |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Ponds & Lakes |
| Diet | Predators | Predators |
| Regions | North America | Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Twelve-Spotted Skimmer
A showy dragonfly with three dark spots on each wing, totaling twelve. Mature males develop additional white spots between the dark ones.
Did You Know?
Despite the name twelve-spotted, mature males actually have 24 wing markings when the white pruinose spots are included.
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.
Did You Know?
It is one of the few dragonfly species to have naturally colonized New Zealand by flying across the Tasman Sea.