Austrogomphus cornutus - Unicorn Hunter

Male identification: A dainty yellow and black dragonfly with a prominent yellow mid-dorsal line on the forward-third of the abdomen. Pale rings between abdominal segments 2-6 and one very thick prominent ring between segments 6-7. Black legs. Upper thorax with antehumeral joined to collar but separated from humeral stripe. Intersegmental suture completely black so the thorax side is divided in two by a thick diagonal line.

Female identification: Likely to be similar to male with slightly subdued markings.

Similar species: Very similar to other Austrogomphids. Diagnostic features include the thick black diagonal line across the side of the thorax and the distinctly ringed abdomen.

Behaviour: Readily perches on bankside vegetation, rocks and logs. Flies low and fast over water.

Distribution: Lowland areas of northern Victoria below 400m.

Australian State distribution (from CSIRO Entomology)

Habitat: Rivers

Status: Uncommon and localised

Flight period: December to February