Blue-tailed Forest Hawk (Orthetrum triangulare)

OTHER NAMES: Lesser Blue Skimmer, Triangle Skimmer

Latin Etymology: Orthetrum (?) triangulare ("triangular")

Adult Blue-tailed Forest Hawk (subspecies O. t. triangulare) at Arashiyama, Kyoto Japan - July 2013

Featured Subspecies: Orthetrum triangulare triangulare
Length: ?  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Blue-tailed Forest Hawk is a fairly common Dragonfly in Japan - it is found in mountainous forest habitats, where it breeds in small ponds.  This particular individual was found on the rocky paths in the foothills near Arashiyama feeding on the insects on the track up to the Monkey Sanctuary.  For a large dragonfly, it was fairly tolerant of humans and allowed some fairly close views.

Related Species:
Order: Odonata
Family: Libellulidae
Genus: Orthetrum
SUBSPECIES: O. t. triangulare, O. c.malaccense

- Sighting Locations -

JAPAN - Japanese - 大潮カラートンボ  /  Ooshio-kara-tombo ("Fish Colour Dragonfly")

Resident seen in Summer..

 - KYOTO/OSAKA 2013 TRIP: A single individual at Arashiyama.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto