SPECIES: Austrocordulia leonardi — Sydney Hawk Dragonfly
CLASSIFICATION: Endangered
The Sydney Hawk Dragonfly - endemic to the Sydney basin - can be found in rivers and dams. Quite striking in appearance, they have a black and yellow abdomen and transparent wings studded with black tips. Known for their flying ability, and this species is no exception, they can fly upwards, downwards, backwards, forwards - not to mention side to side and even hover about mid-air. The biggest threat facing the Sydney Hawk Dragonfly is habitat degradation, including water pollution and climate change in particular.
Photo: Adrian Grieve