The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia (Gunther Theisinger and John Hawking) lists 112 Zygoptera (Damselflies) and 211 Anisoptera (Dragonflies) – 323 Odonata in all. I have added a recent addition so the list is now 324 species. I am not entirely sure how much use such an extensive list may be but since I jumped through a few hoops to format it as I like it, I thought I’d publish it anyway.
At the time of writing, I have made two visits to Australia hunting dragonflies, one ad hoc and one intense, so have seen only a limited number [56] personally. However, I love Australia to bits and hope to make further visits to add to my tally. As with my other checklists, those linked to species pages are those that I have seen.
For lists that are a manageable size, I generally stick to the sequence of species that the guide books use (which I confess I don’t understand). In this case, however, searching by eye for a species within a list of 200+ seemingly randomly sequenced names is very arduous; anything other than alphabetical seems to me less than useful. So here I’ve sorted them into alphabetical order within the suborders of Zygoptera and Anisoptera.
Zygoptera (Damselflies)
- Aciagrion fragile (Blue Slim)
- Agriocnemis argentea (Silver Wisp)
- Agriocnemis dobsoni (Tropical Wisp)
- Agriocnemis femina (Pinhead Wisp)
- Agriocnemis kunjina (Pilbara Wisp)
- Agriocnemis pygmaea (Pygmy Wisp)
- Agriocnemis rubricauda (Red-Rumped Wisp)
- Archiargiolestes parvulus (Midget Flatwing)
- Archiargiolestes pusillissimus (Tiny Flatwing)
- Archiargiolestes pusillus (Little Flatwing)
- Archibasis mimetes (Blue-Banded Longtail)
- Argiocnemis rubescens (Red-Tipped Shadefly)
- Austroagrion cyane (South-Western Billabongfly)
- Austroagrion exclamationis (Northern Billabongfly)
- Austroagrion pindrina (Pilbara Billabongfly)
- Austroagrion watsoni (Eastern Billabongfly)
- Austroargiolestes alpinus (New England Flatwing)
- Austroargiolestes amabilis (Flame Flatwing)
- Austroargiolestes aureus (Tropical Flatwing)
- Austroargiolestes brookhousei (Barrington Flatwing)
- Austroargiolestes calcaris (Powdered Flatwing)
- Austroargiolestes christine (Milky Flatwing)
- Austroargiolestes chrysoides (Golden Flatwing)
- Austroargiolestes elke (Azure Flatwing)
- Austroargiolestes icteromelas (Common Flatwing)
- Austroargiolestes isabellae (Sydney Flatwing)
- Austrocnemis maccullochi (Tiny Longlegs)
- Austrocnemis obscura (Kimberley Longlegs)
- Austrocnemis splendida (Splendid Longlegs)
- Austrolestes aleison (Western Ringtail)
- Austrolestes analis (Slender Ringtail)
- Austrolestes annulosus (Blue Ringtail)
- Austrolestes aridus (Inland Ringtail)
- Austrolestes cingulatus (Metallic Ringtail)
- Austrolestes insularis (Northern Ringtail)
- Austrolestes io (Iota Ringtail)
- Austrolestes leda (Wandering Ringtail)
- Austrolestes minjerriba (Dune Ringtail)
- Austrolestes psyche (Cup Ringtail)
- Austrosticta fieldi (Northern Pondsitter)
- Austrosticta frater (Eastern Pondsitter)
- Austrosticta soror (Kimberley Pondsitter)
- Caliagrion billinghursti (Large Riverdamsel)
- Ceriagrion aeruginosum (Redtail)
- Chorismagrion risi (Pretty Relict)
- Coenagrion lyelli (Swamp Bluet)
- Diphlebia coerulescens (Sapphire Rockmaster)
- Diphlebia euphoeoides (Tropical Rockmaster)
- Diphlebia hybridoides (Giant Rockmaster)
- Diphlebia lestoides (Whitewater Rockmaster)
- Diphlebia nymphoides (Arrowhead Rockmaster)
- Episynlestes albicauda (Southern Whitetip)
- Episynlestes cristatus (Tropical Whitetip)
- Episynlestes intermedius (Intermediate Whitetip)
- Eurysticta coolawanyah (Pilbara Pin)
- Eurysticta coomalie (Coomalie Pin)
- Eurysticta kununurra (Kimberley Pin)
- Eurysticta reevesi (Queensland Pin)
- Griseargiolestes albescens (Coastal Flatwing)
- Griseargiolestes bucki (Turquoise Flatwing)
- Griseargiolestes eboracus (Grey-Chested Flatwing)
- Griseargiolestes fontanus (Springs Flatwing)
- Griseargiolestes griseus (Grey Flatwing)
- Griseargiolestes intermedius (Alpine Flatwing)
- Griseargiolestes metallicus (Metallic Flatwing)
- Hemiphlebia mirabilis (Ancient Greenling)
- Indolestes alleni (Small Reedling)
- Indolestes obiri (Cave Reedling)
- Indolestes tenuissimus (Slender Reedling)
- Ischnura aurora (Aurora Bluetail)
- Ischnura heterosticta (Common Bluetail)
- Ischnura pruinescens (Colourful Bluetail)
- Labidiosticta vallisi (Large Wiretail)
- Lestes concinnus (Dusky Spreadwing)
- Lestoidea barbarae (Large Bluestreak)
- Lestoidea brevicauda (Short-Tipped Bluestreak)
- Lestoidea conjuncta (Common Bluestreak)
- Lestoidea lewisiana (Mount Lewis Bluestreak)
- Lithosticta macra (Rock Narrow-Wing)
- Miniargiolestes minimus (Stream Flatwing)
- Neosticta canescens (Southern Pinfly)
- Neosticta fraseri (Tropical Pinfly)
- Neosticta silvarum (Forest Pinfly)
- Neurobasis australis (Papuan Demoiselle)
- Nososticta baroalba (Black-Winged Threadtail)
- Nososticta coelestina (Green-Blue Threadtail)
- Nososticta fraterna (Northern Threadtail)
- Nososticta kalumburu (Spot-Winged Threadtail)
- Nososticta koolpinyah (Koolpinyah Threadtail)
- Nososticta koongarra (Citrine Threadtail)
- Nososticta liveringa (Malachite Threadtail)
- Nososticta mouldsi (Striped Threadtail)
- Nososticta pilbara (Pilbara Threadtail)
- Nososticta solida (Orange Threadtail)
- Nososticta solitaria (Fivespot Threadtail)
- Nososticta taracumbi (Melville Island Threadtail)
- Oristicta filicicola (Slender Wiretail)
- Podopteryx selysi (Treehole Flatwing)
- Pseudagrion aureofrons (Gold-Fronted Riverdamsel)
- Pseudagrion cingillum (Northern Riverdamsel)
- Pseudagrion ignifer (Flame-Headed Riverdamsel)
- Pseudagrion jedda (Dusky Riverdamsel)
- Pseudagrion lucifer (Citrine-Headed Riverdamsel)
- Pseudagrion microcephalum (Blue Riverdamsel)
- Rhadinosticta banksi (Northern Wiretail)
- Rhadinosticta simplex (Powdered Wiretail)
- Rhinocypha tincta semitincta (Papuan Jewel)
- Synlestes selysi (Forest Needle)
- Synlestes tropicus (Tropical Needle)
- Synlestes weyersii (Bronze Needle)
- Teinobasis rufithorax (Red-Breasted Longtail)
- Xanthagrion erythroneurum (Red & Blue Damsel)
Anisoptera (Dragonflies)
- Acanthaeschna victoria (Thylacine Darner)
- Adversaeschna brevistyla (Blue-Spotted Hawker)
- Aethriamanta circumsignata (Square-Spot Basker)
- Aethriamanta nymphaeae (L-Spot Basker)
- Agrionoptera insignis allogenes (Red Swampdragon)
- Agrionoptera longitudinalis biserialis (Striped Swampdragon)
- Agyrtacantha dirupta (Trifid Duskhawker)
- Anaciaeschna jaspidea (Australasian Duskhawker)
- Anax georgius (Kimberley Emperor)
- Anax gibbosulus (Green Emperor)
- Anax guttatus (Lesser Green Emperor)
- Anax papuensis (Australian Emperor)
- Antipodogomphus acolythus (Southern Dragon)
- Antipodogomphus dentosus (Top End Dragon)
- Antipodogomphus edentulus (Cape York Dragon)
- Antipodogomphus hodgkini (Pilbara Dragon)
- Antipodogomphus neophytus (Northern Dragon)
- Antipodogomphus proselythus (Spinehead Dragon)
- Antipodophlebia asthenes (Terrestrial Evening Darner)
- Apocordulia macrops (Nighthawk)
- Archaeophya adamsi (Horned Urfly)
- Archaeophya magnifica (Magnificent Urfly)
- Archaeosynthemis leachii (Twinspot Tigertail)
- Archaeosynthemis occidentalis (Western Brown Tigertail)
- Archaeosynthemis orientalis (Eastern Brown Tigertail)
- Archaeosynthemis spiniger (Spiny Tigertail)
- Archipetalia auriculata (Tasmanian Redspot)
- Armagomphus armiger (Armourtail)
- Austroaeschna anacantha (Western Darner)
- Austroaeschna atrata (Mountain Darner)
- Austroaeschna christine (S-Spot Darner)
- Austroaeschna cooloola (Wallum Darner)
- Austroaeschna eungella (Eungella Darner)
- Austroaeschna flavomaculata (Alpine Darner)
- Austroaeschna hardyi (Lesser Tasmanian Darner)
- Austroaeschna inermis (Whitewater Darner)
- Austroaeschna ingrid (Grampian Darner (TBC))
- Austroaeschna muelleri (Carnarvon Darner)
- Austroaeschna multipunctata (Multi-Spotted Darner)
- Austroaeschna obscura (Sydney Mountain Darner)
- Austroaeschna parvistigma (Swamp Darner)
- Austroaeschna pinheyi (Inland Darner (TBC))
- Austroaeschna pulchra (Forest Darner)
- Austroaeschna sigma (Sigma Darner)
- Austroaeschna speciosa (Tropical Unicorn Darner)
- Austroaeschna subapicalis� (Conehead Darner)
- Austroaeschna tasmanica (Tasmanian Darner)
- Austroaeschna unicornis (Unicorn Darner)
- Austroaeschna weiskei (Ochre-Tipped Darner)
- Austrocordulia leonardi (Sydney Hawk)
- Austrocordulia refracta (Eastern Hawk)
- Austrocordulia territoria (Top End Hawk)
- Austroepigomphus gordoni (Western Red Hunter)
- Austroepigomphus melaleucae (Twinspot Hunter)
- Austroepigomphus turneri (Flame-Tipped Hunter)
- Austrogomphus amphiclitus (Pale Hunter)
- Austrogomphus angelorum (Murray River Hunter)
- Austrogomphus arbustorum (Toothed Hunter)
- Austrogomphus australis (Inland Hunter)
- Austrogomphus bifurcatus (Dark Hunter)
- Austrogomphus collaris (Western Inland Hunter)
- Austrogomphus cornutus (Unicorn Hunter)
- Austrogomphus divaricatus (Fork Hunter)
- Austrogomphus doddi (Northern River Hunter)
- Austrogomphus guerini (Yellow-Striped Hunter)
- Austrogomphus mjobergi (Pimple-Headed Hunter)
- Austrogomphus mouldsorum (Kimberley Hunter)
- Austrogomphus ochraceus (Jade Hunter)
- Austrogomphus prasinus (Lemon-Tipped Hunter)
- Austrogomphus pusillus (Tiny Hunter)
- Austrogynacantha heterogena (Australian Duskhawker)
- Austropetalia patricia (Waterfall Redspot)
- Austropetalia tonyana (Alpine Redspot)
- Austrophlebia costalis (Southern Giant Darner)
- Austrophlebia subcostalis (Northern Giant Darner)
- Austrophya mystica (Rainforest Mystic)
- Austrosynthemis cyanitincta (Turquoise Tigertail)
- Austrothemis nigrescens (Swamp Flat-Tail)
- Brachydiplax denticauda (Palemouth)
- Brachydiplax duivenbodei (Darkmouth)
- Camacinia othello (Black Knight)
- Choristhemis flavoterminata (Yellow-Tipped Tigertail)
- Choristhemis olivei (Delicate Tigertail)
- Cordulephya bidens (Tropical Shutwing)
- Cordulephya divergens (Clubbed Shutwing)
- Cordulephya montana (Mountain Shutwing)
- Cordulephya pygmaea (Common Shutwing)
- Crocothemis nigrifrons (Black-Headed Skimmer)
- Dendroaeschna conspersa (Wide-Faced Darner)
- Diplacodes bipunctata (Wandering Percher)
- Diplacodes haematodes (Scarlet Percher)
- Diplacodes melanopsis (Black-Faced Percher)
- Diplacodes nebulosa (Charcoal-Winged Percher)
- Diplacodes trivialis (Chalky Percher)
- Dromaeschna forcipata (Green-Striped Darner)
- Eusynthemis aurolineata (Variable Tigertail)
- Eusynthemis barbarae (Mount Lewis Tigertail)
- Eusynthemis brevistyla (Small Tigertail)
- Eusynthemis deniseae (Carnavon Tigertail)
- Eusynthemis guttata (Southern Tigertail)
- Eusynthemis netta (Pretty Tigertail)
- Eusynthemis nigra (Black Tigertail)
- Eusynthemis rentziana (Swift Tigertail)
- Eusynthemis tenera (Rainforest Tigertail)
- Eusynthemis tillyardi (Mountain Tigertail)
- Eusynthemis ursa (Barrington Tigertail)
- Eusynthemis ursula (Beech Tigertail)
- Eusynthemis virgula (Golden Tigertail)
- Gynacantha dobsoni (Lesser Duskhawker)
- Gynacantha kirbyi (Slender Duskhawker)
- Gynacantha mocsaryi (Paddle-Tipped Duskhawker)
- Gynacantha nourlangie (Cave Duskhawker)
- Gynacantha rosenbergi (Grey Duskhawker)
- Hemicordulia armstrongi
- Hemicordulia australiae (Australian Emerald)
- Hemicordulia continentalis (Fat-Bellied Emerald)
- Hemicordulia flava (Desert Emerald)
- Hemicordulia intermedia (Yellow-Spotted Emerald)
- Hemicordulia kalliste (Slender Emerald)
- Hemicordulia koomina (Pilbara Emerald)
- Hemicordulia superba (Superb Emerald)
- Hemicordulia tau (Tau Emerald)
- Hemigomphus atratus (Black Vicetail)
- Hemigomphus comitatus (Zebra Vicetail)
- Hemigomphus cooloola (Wallum Vicetail)
- Hemigomphus gouldii (Southern Vicetail)
- Hemigomphus heteroclytus (Stout Vicetail)
- Hemigomphus magela (Kakadu Vicetail)
- Hemigomphus theischingeri (Rainforest Vicetail)
- Hesperocordulia berthoudi (Orange Streamcruiser)
- Huonia melvillensis (Forestwatcher)
- Hydrobasileus brevistylus (Water Prince)
- Ictinogomphus australis (Australian Tiger)
- Ictinogomphus dobsoni (Pilbara Tiger)
- Ictinogomphus paulini (Cape York Tiger)
- Lathrecista asiatica festa (Australian Slimwing)
- Lathrocordulia garrisoni (Queensland Swiftwing)
- Lathrocordulia metallica (Western Swiftwing)
- Macrodiplax cora (Wandering Pennant)
- Macromia tillyardi (Australian Cruiser)
- Macromia viridescens (Rainforest Cruiser)
- Metaphya tillyardi (Offshore Emerald)
- Micromidia atrifrons (Forest Mosquitohawk)
- Micromidia convergens (Early Mosquitohawk)
- Micromidia rodericki (Thursday Island Mosquitohawk)
- Nannodiplax rubra (Pygmy Percher)
- Nannophlebia eludens (Elusive Archtail)
- Nannophlebia injibandi (Pilbara Archtail)
- Nannophlebia mudginberri (Top End Archtail)
- Nannophlebia risi (Common Archtail)
- Nannophya australis (Australian Pygmyfly)
- Nannophya dalei (Eastern Pygmyfly)
- Nannophya occidentalis (Western Pygmyfly)
- Nannophya paulsoni (Scarlet Pygmyfly)
- Neurothemis oligoneura (Spotted Grasshawk)
- Neurothemis stigmatizans (Painted Grasshawk)
- Notoaeschna geminata (Northern Riffle Darner)
- Notoaeschna sagittata (Southern Riffle Darner)
- Notolibellula bicolor (Bicoloured Skimmer)
- Odontogomphus donnellyi (Pinchtail)
- Orthetrum balteatum (Speckled Skimmer)
- Orthetrum boumiera (Brownwater Skimmer)
- Orthetrum caledonicum (Blue Skimmer)
- Orthetrum migratum (Rosy Skimmer)
- Orthetrum sabina (Slender Skimmer)
- Orthetrum serapia (Green Skimmer)
- Orthetrum villosovittatum (Fiery Skimmer)
- Pantala flavescens (Wandering Glider)
- Parasynthemis regina (Royal Tigertail)
- Pentathemis membranulata (Metallic Tigerhawk)
- Petalura gigantea (South-Eastern Petaltail)
- Petalura hesperia (Western Petaltail)
- Petalura ingentissima (Giant Petaltail)
- Petalura litorea (Coastal Petaltail)
- Petalura pulcherrima (Beautiful Petaltail)
- Potamarcha congener (Swampwatcher)
- Procordulia affinis (Western Swamp Emerald)
- Procordulia jacksoniensis (Eastern Swamp Emerald)
- Pseudocordulia circularis (Circle-Tipped Mistfly)
- Pseudocordulia elliptica (Ellipse-Tipped Mistfly)
- Raphismia bispina (Spiny-Chested Percher)
- Rhodothemis lieftincki (Red Arrow)
- Rhyothemis braganza (Iridescent Flutterer)
- Rhyothemis graphiptera (Graphic Flutterer)
- Rhyothemis phyllis (Yellow-Striped Flutterer)
- Rhyothemis princeps (Sapphire Flutterer)
- Rhyothemis resplendens (Jewel Flutterer)
- Spinaeschna tripunctata (Southern Cascade Darner)
- Spinaeschna watsoni (Tropical Cascade Darner)
- Synthemiopsis gomphomacromioides (Tasmanian Spotwing)
- Synthemis eustalacta (Swamp Tigertail)
- Synthemis tasmanica (Tasmanian Swamp Tigertail)
- Telephlebia brevicauda (Southern Evening Darner)
- Telephlebia cyclops (Northern Evening Darner)
- Telephlebia godeffroyi (Eastern Evening Darner)
- Telephlebia tillyardi (Tropical Evening Darner)
- Telephlebia tryoni (Coastal Evening Darner)
- Telephlebia undia (Carnarvon Evening Darner)
- Tetrathemis irregularis cladophila (Rainforest Elf)
- Tholymis tillarga (Twister)
- Tonyosynthemis claviculata (Clavicle Tigertail)
- Tonyosynthemis ofarrelli (Slender Tigertail)
- Tramea eurybia (Dune Glider)
- Tramea loewii (Common Glider)
- Tramea propinqua (Northern Glider)
- Tramea stenoloba (Narrow-Lobed Glider)
- Urothemis aliena (Red Baron)
- Zephyrogomphus lateralis (Lilac Hunter)
- Zephyrogomphus longipositor (Rainforest Hunter)
- Zyxomma elgneri (Short-Tailed Duskdarter)
- Zyxomma multinervorum (Large Duskdarter)
- Zyxomma petiolatum (Long-Tailed Duskdarter)