Identification Family represented in Victoria by just one species: Austropetalia tonyana. Possibly uncommon and quite localised. 

One of the ancient Gondwana dragonflies, it is speculated that such species require relatively high quality water. There is very little information about this species compared to its congener Austropetalia patricia from which it was recently split A. patricia is known to inhabit highly oxygenated water, emerging in spring to breed near waterfalls and like other species in the family, may fly in temperatures as low as 9 degrees celsius. One recent record from the Dandenongs was in a very small spring, nowhere near significant running water, but the biggest known distribution appears to be the Bogong High Plains. 

John Trueman has apparently observed A. patricia egg-laying in moss in the splash zone around torrents and waterfalls. The larvae seem adapted to a fast-water environment, being dorso-ventrally flattened. They are at least partially amphibious and may occur under rocks and leaf litter. Mature larvae have been observed to crawl out onto mossy rocks at night to feed.

According to Dragonflies of the World (Silsby, 2001), adult A. patricia have been seen spending much time cruising in hilltop clearings. There seems to be little evidence that the species is crepuscular, and it is reasonable to assume that a spring-emerging species would maximise exposure to sunlight. 

Although considered uncommon therefore, as with other dragonflies in Victoria, there is almost no information and the species could be found throughout the foothills and alpine areas of Victoria.