Skip to main content

Gray Petaltail

Tachopteryx thoreyi

Photo by AshleyT
Published on Project Noah
Zoom
NominateNominate for Wildlife Photograph of the Month
reportFlag Spotting

32.0589, -95.2014

Field Notes

Description:

Thinking this might be a Gray Petaltail? I watched it eat a fly with giant teeth looking things, I assume they are teeth? You can see it in the video.

Habitat:

Sitting on the side of a bird blind, eating a fly of some sort.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (9)

Thanks Neil! I guess he was too interested in his meal to even care I was there, I was the one just standing there and he came and landed not even two foot away from me so I started taking lots of pics :)
Excellent photos, Ashley. It's hard enough to get clear photos of dragonflies at the best of times, but to see one with prey?!! Wow!!
I'm going with it then, thanks for the help guys!
Here's one on BugGuide with a striped thorax: http://bugguide.net/node/view/128834 Interesting fun facts, gatorfellows!!
Thanks J and gatorfellows! I want to say it is a male Gray Petaltail, the link you gave shows there are bar-like things on the top of the tail, not really banding so much. But I would like some bug person to confirm :)
Ok here are some digital images for male and female grey petaltails that you should be able to conclude your ID. http://agrilife.org/dragonfly/dragonfly-catalog/petaluridae/ I met the gentleman that is doing this collection. He catches them live and immobilizes them long enough to put them on the scanner. That way it preserves a perfect image and eye color. Interesting person. :)
The face of this dragonfly appears to fit the descriptions for a grey petaltail, but have not been able to confirm the contradiction about the striped thorax. I keep finding the descriptions of a grey petaltail has a solid grey thorax. Will keep researching.
Awesome video and photos documenting feeding habits!
Fun Facts: Odonata is derived from the Greek "odonto-", meaning tooth. The jaws, which work from side to side, are made up of one pair of upper mandibles and two pairs of lower maxillae. That make them eating machines in the air. Hard to photograph and catch because of their great eyesight; some dragonflies may have up to 28,000 facets on their compound eyes. :)

Accelerate our Mission to Photograph 
Every Species in the World!

Image
Butterflies icon

Wildlife Community

Wildlife Community

Join a worldwide community passionate about wildlife and nature!

Join Project Noah

Nature School

Nature School

Transform your green space into a curiosity-creating nature classroom!

Visit Nature School

Wildlife Game

Wildlife Game

Defend wildlife throughout the jungle in thrilling nature game!

Play Baboon