Austroaeschna is a genus of dragonflies in the diverse family Aeshnidae.
Species of Austroaeschna are brown to black large dragonflies with dull or brightly coloured markings. One species is found in south-western Australia, while other species of Austroaeschna are indigenous to eastern Australia.
Etymology The genus name Austroaeschna combines the prefix austro- (from Latin auster, meaning “south wind”, hence “southern”) with Aeshna, a genus of dragonflies. The origin of the name Aeshna is uncertain, but it is thought to derive from Greek. The name Austroaeschna refers to a southern representative of that group.
Species The genus Austroaeschna includes the following species:
Austroaeschna anacantha – western darner Austroaeschna atrata – mountain darner Austroaeschna christine – S-spot darner Austroaeschna cooloola – wallum darner Austroaeschna eungella – eungella darner Austroaeschna flavomaculata – alpine darner Austroaeschna hardyi – lesser Tasmanian darner Austroaeschna inermis – whitewater darner Austroaeschna ingrid - Grampians darner Austroaeschna muelleri – Carnarvon darner Austroaeschna multipunctata – multi-Spotted darner Austroaeschna obscura – Sydney mountain darner Austroaeschna parvistigma – swamp darner Austroaeschna pinheyi – inland darner Austroaeschna pulchra – forest darner Austroaeschna sigma – sigma darner Austroaeschna speciosa – tropical unicorn darner Austroaeschna subapicalis – conehead darner Austroaeschna tasmanica – Tasmanian darner Austroaeschna unicornis – unicorn darner
The following species are considered to be in the genus Austroaeschna by the Australian Faunal Directory. Dromaeschna forcipata – green-striped darner Dromaeschna weiskei – ochre-tipped darner
References