Petaluridae
Encyclopedia
The Petaltails of the family Petaluridae are apparently the most ancient of the extant true dragonflies
(infraorder Anisoptera), having fossil
members from as early as the Jurassic
(over 150 million years ago).
Modern petalurids include only 11 species, one of which, the Australia
n Petalura ingentissima, is the largest of living dragonflies, having a wingspan of up to 160 mm and a body length of over 100 mm. Other Australian species include Petalura gigantea
(commonly known as the Giant Dragonfly). In the United States
there are two species, one on either coast. The larvae live primarily in stream banks, mostly in burrows, but the larvae of the eastern U.S. species, Tachopteryx thoreyi, the Gray Petaltail, live in depressions under wet leaves. The semi-aquatic habitat of the larvae makes the Petaltails unique in the modern dragonfly families.
Dragonfly
A dragonfly is a winged insect belonging to the order Odonata, the suborder Epiprocta or, in the strict sense, the infraorder Anisoptera . It is characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong transparent wings, and an elongated body...
(infraorder Anisoptera), having fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
members from as early as the Jurassic
Jurassic
The Jurassic is a geologic period and system that extends from about Mya to Mya, that is, from the end of the Triassic to the beginning of the Cretaceous. The Jurassic constitutes the middle period of the Mesozoic era, also known as the age of reptiles. The start of the period is marked by...
(over 150 million years ago).
Modern petalurids include only 11 species, one of which, the Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n Petalura ingentissima, is the largest of living dragonflies, having a wingspan of up to 160 mm and a body length of over 100 mm. Other Australian species include Petalura gigantea
Petalura gigantea
The Giant Dragonfly or South-eastern Petaltail, Petalura gigantea, is one of the world's largest dragonflies, with the males having an abdomen 6 - 7.5 cm long and a wingspan up to 11 cm, while females have an abdomen 8 - 9.5 cm long and a wingspan up to 12.5 cm.The giant...
(commonly known as the Giant Dragonfly). In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
there are two species, one on either coast. The larvae live primarily in stream banks, mostly in burrows, but the larvae of the eastern U.S. species, Tachopteryx thoreyi, the Gray Petaltail, live in depressions under wet leaves. The semi-aquatic habitat of the larvae makes the Petaltails unique in the modern dragonfly families.