Platycnemis acutipennis

Platycnemis acutipennis
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Odonata
Suborder:	Zygoptera
Family:	Platycnemididae
Genus:	Platycnemis
Species:	P. acutipennis
Binomial name
Platycnemis acutipennis Selys, 1841

Platycnemis acutipennis, known as the orange featherleg or the orange white-legged damselfly, is a species of damselfly in the family Platycnemididae.[1][2][3]

Description

Platycnemis acutipennis is the only European damselfly which combines an orange-red abdomen and blue eyes.[4] The male has moderately wide hind tibias (wider in both P. pennipes and P. latipes; and the males of both those species have blue abdomens).[4] The thorax is buff-coloured with black stripes. There is an orange spot near the tip of each wing. The sexes are similar.

Behaviour

Platycnemis acutipennis lives in fresh water, either still or up to moderately fast-flowing.[5]

Distribution

Platycnemis acutipennis is common and widely distributed across the southwest of Europe including Portugal, Spain, and France; it is endemic to that area.[5] There are however some recent records from Germany.[6]

References

1. Martin Schorr; Martin Lindeboom; Dennis Paulson. "World Odonata List". University of Puget Sound. Archived from the original on 28 July 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
2. "Checklist, English common names". DragonflyPix.com. Archived from the original on 4 December 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
3. Dijkstra, Klaas-Douwe B. (2006). Field Guide to the Dragonflies of Britain and Europe. British Wildlife Publishing. ISBN 0-9531399-4-8.
4. Nielsen, Erland Refling. "Platycnemis". Danodonata.dk. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved January 7, 2012.
5. Boudot, J-P. (2010). "IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2". Platycnemis acutipennis. IUCN. Retrieved January 7, 2012.
6. "Global Biodiversity Information Facility". Platycnemis acutipennis. GBIF. Retrieved January 7, 2012.

External links

• Aesnature: Platycnemis acutipennis (images showing mating and egg-laying behaviour)