Austrogomphus
# Austrogomphus

Austrogomphus is a genus of dragonflies in the family Gomphidae, endemic to Australia. Species of Austrogomphus are tiny to medium-sized dragonflies, black in colour with yellowish markings. They are commonly known as hunters.

## Species

The genus Austrogomphus includes the following species in four subgenera:

Subgenus Austroepigomphus

* Austrogomphus (Austroepigomphus) praeruptus (Selys, 1857)

Subgenus Austrogomphus

* Austrogomphus angelorum Tillyard, 1913 - Murray River hunter
* Austrogomphus arbustorum Tillyard, 1906 - toothed hunter
* Austrogomphus australis Dale in Selys, 1854 - inland hunter
* Austrogomphus collaris Hagen in Selys, 1854 - western inland hunter
* Austrogomphus cornutus Watson, 1991 - unicorn hunter
* Austrogomphus doddi Tillyard, 1909 - northern river hunter
* Austrogomphus guerini (Rambur, 1842) - yellow-striped hunter
* Austrogomphus mjobergi Sjöstedt, 1917 - pimple-headed hunter
* Austrogomphus mouldsorum Theischinger, 1999 - Kimberley hunter
* Austrogomphus ochraceus (Selys, 1869) - jade hunter
* Austrogomphus pusillus Sjöstedt, 1917 - tiny hunter

Subgenus Pleiogomphus

* Austrogomphus (Pleiogomphus) amphiclitus (Selys, 1873) - pale hunter
* Austrogomphus (Pleiogomphus) bifurcatus Tillyard, 1909 - dark hunter
* Austrogomphus (Pleiogomphus) divaricatus Watson, 1991 - fork hunter
* Austrogomphus (Pleiogomphus) prasinus Tillyard, 1906 - lemon-tipped hunter

Subgenus Xerogomphus

* Austrogomphus (Xerogomphus) gordoni Watson, 1962 - western red hunter
* Austrogomphus (Xerogomphus) turneri Martin, 1901 - flame-tipped hunter

## Etymology

The genus name Austrogomphus is derived from two words: the Latin word auster meaning south wind, hence south; and the Greek word gomphus (γόμφος) meaning peg or nail. It is suggested that the shape of the male tail is generally like that of a bolt used in ship building. Gomphus is also a genus of dragonfly, with some similarities to Austrogomphus, both belonging to the much larger family group, Gomphidae. In 1854 Edmond de Sélys Longchamps named the sub-genus Austrogomphus probably as a southern or Australian component of the gomphid group.

