''Petalura'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of very large

dragonflies A dragonfly is a flying insect belonging to the infraorder Anisoptera below the order Odonata. About 3,000 extant species of dragonflies are known. Most are tropical, with fewer species in temperate regions. Loss of wetland habitat threate ...

in the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Petaluridae The petaltails of the family Petaluridae are among the most ancient of the extant true dragonfly, dragonflies (infraorder Anisoptera), having fossil members from as early as the Jurassic, over 150 million years ago. A 2024 molecular phylogeny fou ...

. Species of ''Petalura'' are brown or black with yellow markings and usually clear wings. The anal appendages of the males are broad and leaf-like giving them their common name of petaltails. They are

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

to south-western and eastern Australia.

Species

The genus includes the following species: *''

Petalura gigantea ''Petalura gigantea'', the giant dragonfly or south-eastern petaltail, is a species of dragonfly in the family Petaluridae from southeastern Australia. Males have body length of and a wingspan up to , while females have body length of and a wi ...

'' - South-eastern petaltail *'' Petalura hesperia'' - Western petaltail *''

Petalura ingentissima ''Petalura ingentissima'', the giant petaltail, has been described as the world's largest dragonfly, with a wingspan of 160 mm. It is found in Queensland, Australia. Dr R.J. Tillyard described the giant petaltail in 1908. Its species name ...

'' - Giant petaltail *'' Petalura litorea'' - Coastal petaltail *'' Petalura pulcherrima'' - Beautiful petaltail

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2793038 Petaluridae Anisoptera genera Odonata of Australia Endemic fauna of Australia Taxa named by William Elford Leach Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Taxa described in 1815