Best Petaluridae

Petalura ingentissima, known as the giant petaltail, is a unique dragonfly species native to Australian wetlands. This remarkable insect boasts an exceptionally large size, with a wingspan exceeding twelve centimeters – making it one of the world’s largest dragonflies. It belongs to the Petaluridae...

Petalura ingentissima, commonly known as the giant petaltail, is a large species of dragonfly endemic to the coastal rainforests of northeastern Australia. First described by entomologist Robert John Tillyard in 1908, it is recognized as Australia's largest dragonfly, capable of reaching a wingspan...

The Gray Petaltail (Tachopteryx thoreyi) is a dragonfly species belonging to the ancient family Petaluridae, which has existed for approximately 150 million years. Native to the eastern United States, it features distinctive gray markings on its thorax and abdomen, with a dark body measuring approxi...

Uropetala carovei, commonly known as the New Zealand bush giant dragonfly, is a large dragonfly native only to New Zealand’s forests. This species stands out due to its impressive size and the predatory behavior of its larval stage, which targets land snails. It is primarily observed in forested are...

Petalura gigantea, described by William Elford Leach in 1815, is among the world's largest dragonflies, with a wingspan reaching approximately 13 centimetres. Endemic to Australia, it inhabits permanent peat-swamp wetlands along the coast and ranges of New South Wales, where its larvae develop in wa...

The petaltail dragonfly, *Petalura pulcherrima*, is a rare species native to Australia’s swamps. Distinguished by its exceptionally wide, petal-like extensions on its abdomen, this dragonfly is one of the largest in the Petaluridae family. It's notable for its unique morphology and limited distribut...

The Australian petaltail, *Petalura gigantea*, is a large dragonfly species found in swampy areas of eastern Australia. It’s notable for its unique larval stage, which burrows into streambanks, a rarely observed adaptation among dragonflies. This unusual insect is primarily studied by entomologists...

Petalura hesperia is the western petaltail, described by Watson in 1958 and notable as a relict dragonfly restricted to wetlands in southwestern Western Australia.

The Black Petaltail (Tanypteryx hageni) is a large dragonfly in the family Petaluridae, an ancient lineage often called petaltails. Endemic to the mountains of western North America, it inhabits high-elevation bogs, seeps, and mossy stream margins. The long, black, clubbed abdomen and yellow thoraci...

The Black Petaltail, *Tanypteryx hageni*, is a unique dragonfly native to western United States seep environments. This species represents a relatively ancient lineage within dragonflies, offering valuable insights into their evolutionary history. Primarily observed in forested mountain areas, it’s...

*Petalura litorea*, commonly known as the coastal petaltail, is a large species of dragonfly in the family Petaluridae. It is endemic to Australia, where it is confined to swampy coastal habitats in northeastern New South Wales. Described as a distinct species in 1999, it is closely related to other...

The Gray Petaltail, *Tachopteryx thoreyi*, is a rare dragonfly found in southeastern U.S. bogs and wetlands. It’s notable as one of the oldest dragonfly lineages still existing in North America. This species exhibits distinctive gray coloration on its thorax and abdomen. Primarily a focus for entomo...

Tachopteryx thoreyi, known as the gray petaltail, is a distinctive dragonfly species and the only North American representative of the ancient family Petaluridae. First described by Hermann August Hagen in 1858, this species exhibits primitive characteristics rarely seen in modern dragonflies, inclu...