Keeled Skimmer sunbathing on trunk in pond

Unfortunately, it was quite restless, as it kept flying away when I tried to get a better composition.

comments (4)

WildFlower

Lion

This one looks like a black-lined skimmer or black-tailed (Orthetrum cancellatum).
http://www.insectoid.info/dragonflies/black-lined-skimmer/
http://odonatas69.unblog.fr/files/2009/07/orthetrumreticulemident01.jpg
http://www.dutchdragonflies.eu/Gewoneoeverlibel.htm Posted 12 years ago
1. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  This kind of conflicts with a link you posted earlier, where the brown face was the key identifier to push this into a Keeled Skimmer. That said, the links you share now show reference photos that are clear matches so I'll update the identification. This just goes to show how hard it is :) Posted 12 years ago
2. 1. WildFlower
    
    Lion
    
    The other 2 species that were compared had blue tails while this one has a black tail and black pterostigmata. This one also has it's look-alike - the White-Tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum albistylum). It has a black tail with a white tip and brighter lines between the wings :)
    http://odonatas69.unblog.fr/files/2009/07/orthetrumalbistylummident01.jpg Posted 12 years ago
  2. 1. Ferdy Christant
      
      Lion
      
      Got it now, thanks for the kind explanation! Posted 12 years ago

The Black-tailed skimmer

The black-tailed skimmer, "Orthetrum cancellatum", is a European and Asian dragonfly. It occurs nearly all over Europe except northern UK and Scandinavia; to the east, the range extends to Kashmir and Mongolia.

Info 31 1

Similar species: Dragonflies And Damselflies

Species identified by Ferdy Christant

By Ferdy Christant

Uploaded Aug 14, 2013. Captured Aug 3, 2013 16:52.

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NIKON D800
f/4.0
1/800s
ISO100
105mm