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Project Noah Nature School
Hydrobasileus brevistylus
The Water Prince is a large dragonfly with a strong but relatively short body. Its wings are much longer than its body (wingspan 100mm, length 55mm). Adept at gliding and long distance flight, can fly rapidly, but usually hovers. Its abdomen is dark brown-black with golden spots along the dorsal surface, and its eyes and thorax a lovely golden brown. A very handsome species. In Australia, it ranges from the Northern Territory, Cape York down to southeast QLD and northern NSW, but also found in Indonesia, New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands.
See last photo. Spotted at Enoggera Creek, at margin of native subtropical rainforest in the Brisbane Forest Park. Very clean and usually gently-flowing freshwater creek amongst native vegetation. Very cool and well-shaded area.
As it turned out, I didn't do this poor dragonfly any favours. I noticed it floating down the creek, fluttering in the water as it passed me by, so I scooped it up and placed it on the ground, hoping it would have a chance to dry out should it have become waterlogged. After a few photos, I left it where it lay. I didn't realise until I viewied my photos that it had damaged wings (3rd photo). It would have died a slower death than had I just left it in the water. So sorry :(
Spotted on Apr 28, 2018
Submitted on May 21, 2018
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