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Anisoptera

Common name:

Dragonflies

Distribution:

Every continent except Antarctica

Habitat:

Freshwater habitats such as acidic bogs, ponds, lakes, and rivers

Diet:

Bloodworm, other insects larvae, tadpoles, small fish (nymph); flying insects, especially mosquitoes and true flies(adult)

Number of species globally

3,000

Number of species in Hong Kong :

100

Morphology
(how to recognize them) :

-Chunky bodies
-Compound eyes meet at the top of the head
-Hindwing is broader than forewing
-Wings held flat and away from the body when resting

Diagram

Did you know ?

Dragonflies have excellent vision and their compound eyes have nearly 24,000 ommatidia (hexagonal units of clustered photoreceptor cells). Their vision is thought to be like slow motion for humans since they can see faster than us, seeing around 200 images per second. Dragonflies can also see in 360 degrees with only one blindspot directly behind them and nearly 80% of their brain is dedicated to their sight.

Gallery

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