Pseudagrion crenatum
| Pseudagrion crenatum | |
|---|---|
_male_Cattana.jpg) | |
| Male | |
.jpg) | |
| Female | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Suborder: | Zygoptera |
| Family: | Coenagrionidae |
| Genus: | Pseudagrion |
| Species: | P. crenatum |
| Binomial name | |
| Pseudagrion crenatum Seehausen & Marinov, 2026[1] | |
 | |
Pseudagrion crenatum is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae.[2] In Australia this species is commonly known as a blue riverdamsel.[3]
The species occurs in northern and eastern Australia, Indonesian West Papua and Papua New Guinea.[1]
For many years Australian specimens of this species were treated as Pseudagrion microcephalum, however a 2026 revision of the Pseudagrion microcephalum complex recognised the Australian and Papuan populations as a distinct species, Pseudagrion crenatum.[1]
Taxonomic history
In 2026, Malte Seehausen and Milen Marinov described Pseudagrion crenatum as a new species during a revision of the Pseudagrion microcephalum complex.[1] The species was separated from Pseudagrion microcephalum on the basis of differences in the male appendages.[1]
Prior to this revision, Australian populations of this species had generally been identified as Pseudagrion microcephalum, a species then considered to be widespread across southern and eastern Asia, Australasia and the Pacific.[1] Seehausen and Marinov restricted Pseudagrion microcephalum to the Indian subcontinent and recognised several distinct regional taxa, including Pseudagrion crenatum in Australia and New Guinea.[1]
Description
Pseudagrion crenatum is a slender blue-and-black damselfly belonging to the Pseudagrion blue-group. Males have blue markings on the head, thorax and abdomen, with black dorsal markings on the abdominal segments.[1]
The species is distinguished from related species by the shape of the male appendages. The tips of the appendages are deeply divided when viewed from the side.[1]
Distribution and habitat
Pseudagrion crenatum occurs in northern and eastern Australia, Indonesian West Papua and Papua New Guinea.[1] In Australia it is found mainly in tropical and subtropical regions.[3]
Species of Pseudagrion typically inhabit streams, rivers and still waters with emergent vegetation.[3]
Etymology
The genus name Pseudagrion is derived from the Greek ψευδής (pseudēs, "false" or "not true"), combined with Agrion, a genus name derived from the Greek ἄγριος (agrios, "wild"). Agrion was the name given in 1775 by Johan Christian Fabricius for all damselflies.[4]
The species name crenatum is derived from the Latin crenatus ("notched" or "scalloped"), referring to the deeply divided tips of the male appendages.[1]
Gallery
Male
Male
With prey
Mating
Illustration of a female wing.jpg)
Photo of male wings
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Seehausen, M.; Marinov, M. (2026). "Pseudagrion microcephalum (Rambur, 1842)—sifting through a putative familiar species, with erection of two new species (Odonata: Coenagrionidae)". Zootaxa. 5810 (1): 1–48. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5810.1.1.
- ↑ Paulson, D.; Schorr, M.; Abbott, J.; Bota-Sierra, C.; Deliry, C.; Dijkstra, K.-D.; Lozano, F. "World Odonata List". OdonataCentral. University of Alabama. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
- 1 2 3 Theischinger, Günther; Hawking, John (2021). The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia (2nd ed.). Melbourne, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. ISBN 9781486313747.
- ↑ Endersby, Ian; Fliedner, Heinrich (2015). The Naming of Australia's Dragonflies. Eltham, Victoria, Australia: Busybird Publishing. ISBN 9781925260625.
