Erythemis peruviana, commonly known as the flame-tailed pondhawk, is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It was first described and named by the French entomologist Jules Pierre Rambur in 1842.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Odonata
- Infraorder: Anisoptera
- Family: Libellulidae
- Genus: Erythemis
- Species: E. peruviana
- Binomial name: Erythemis peruviana (Rambur, 1842)
Description
The common name "flame-tailed pondhawk" refers to the distinctive coloration of the species, particularly in males, which typically exhibit a reddish or flame-colored abdomen. As with other members of the genus Erythemis, these dragonflies are robust, medium-sized, and are often observed near freshwater habitats such as ponds and marshes.
Distribution
Erythemis peruviana is found in the Neotropical realm. Its known range includes parts of Central and South America, with records from countries such as Costa Rica, Panama, and Peru (as suggested by the specific epithet peruviana, meaning "from Peru").
Ecology
Like all dragonflies, Erythemis peruviana is a predatory insect. Adults feed on small flying insects, while the nymphs (naiads) are aquatic predators that inhabit freshwater environments. The species is typically associated with lowland tropical habitats.
References
- "Erythemis peruviana". iNaturalist. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
- Registry-Migration.Gbif.Org (2019), GBIF Backbone Taxonomy, GBIF Secretariat, doi: 10.15468/39omei.
- Paulson, D.R., and S.W. Dunkle. 2021. A checklist of North American Odonata including English name, etymology, type locality, and distribution.
