Tropical Shutwing (Cordulephya bidens)

The Tropical Shutwing (Cordulephya bidens) is a dragonfly species of the family Cordulephyidae, which contains 4 species in Australia.

The identification key to the family Cordulephyidae consists of 3 couplets, 3 of which are pertinent to Cordulephya bidens. Click on the numbers on the right to display the corresponding couplets. Or click on the ALLin1 button to see all the relevant couplets together in a single, scrollable window.

#	Family	Species	Couplet No.
	Cordulephyidae	Tropical Shutwing (Cordulephya bidens)	Cordulephyidae: Key couplet 1 of 3 ● Hind corner of metepimeron, and poststernum, dull brownish-yellow to greyish brown, only slightly paler than anterior part of metepimeron b ↑ Cordulephyidae: Key couplet 2 of 3 ● Male superior appendages parallel or convergent at tips ● Yellow mark on tergum 8 of female restricted to extreme base, anal appendages relatively slender, pointed b ↑ Cordulephyidae: Key couplet 3 of 3 ○ Small species, male hindwing less than 22 mm long, female hindwing less than 24 mm long ● Male superior appendages close together, almost parallel ⇒ species: Tropical Shutwing (Cordulephya bidens) a ↑
1			Cordulephyidae: Key couplet 1 of 3 ● Hind corner of metepimeron, and poststernum, bright yellow, very much paler than anterior part of metepimeron ⇒ species: Common Shutwing (Cordulephya pygmaea) a ↑ b ↓ ● Hind corner of metepimeron, and poststernum, dull brownish-yellow to greyish brown, only slightly paler than anterior part of metepimeron
2			Cordulephyidae: Key couplet 2 of 3 ● Tips of male superior appendages swollen, divergent ● Female with triangular basal yellow patch reaching to centre of tergum 8, and broad, relatively blunt anal appendages ⇒ species: Clubbed Shutwing (Cordulephya divergens) a ↑ b ↓ ● Male superior appendages parallel or convergent at tips ● Yellow mark on tergum 8 of female restricted to extreme base, anal appendages relatively slender, pointed
3			Cordulephyidae: Key couplet 3 of 3 ○ Small species, male hindwing less than 22 mm long, female hindwing less than 24 mm long ● Male superior appendages close together, almost parallel ⇒ species: Tropical Shutwing (Cordulephya bidens) a ↑ b ↓ ○ Large species, male hindwing more than 22 mm long, female hindwing more than 24 mm long ● Male superior appendages widely separated at base, convergent ⇒ species: Mountain Shutwing (Cordulephya montana)