Rhyothemis princeps

Rhyothemis princeps
Female
Male
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Odonata
Infraorder:	Anisoptera
Family:	Libellulidae
Genus:	Rhyothemis
Species:	R. princeps
Binomial name
Rhyothemis princeps Kirby, 1894

Rhyothemis princeps, known as the sapphire flutterer, is a species of dragonfly of the family Libellulidae. The flight of the genus Rhyothemis is usually fluttering, leading to the common description of "flutterer" for most species in the genus.

Rhyothemis princeps is found in Australia and New Guinea only. It is a medium-sized dragonfly (wingspan 70mm, length 40mm) that inhabits a variety of freshwater lakes, ponds, and swamps. It has a dark blue to black abdomen, and its wings are dark, with two or three pale patches on the outer section. Males have dark patches extending to their wingtips, whereas females have clear wingtips. In sunlight the dark colours can reflect a metallic purplish tinge. In Australia its range is limited to north-eastern Queensland from Cape York Peninsula to around Rockhampton.

Gallery

• 
  Male side view
• 
  Male viewed from above
• 
  Male in Cairns
• 
  Female wings
• 
  Male wings

See also

• List of Odonata species of Australia