Petalura gigantea
In 3 days ~30% in a week ~60%
Petalura gigantea, the giant dragonfly or south-eastern petaltail, is a species of dragonfly in the family Petaluridae from southeastern Australia. Males have body length of 6–7.5 cm (2.4–3.0 in) and a wingspan up to 11 cm (4.3 in), while females have body length of 8–9 cm (3.1–3.5 in) and a wingspan up to 12.5 cm (4.9 in). This makes it a very large species of dragonfly, although it is exceeded by a few other species, including the closely related northeast Australian giant petaltail (P. ingentissima).
The giant dragonfly occurs along the east coast of New South Wales, ranging from the northern part of the state to the Victorian border region, and is not found west of the Great Dividing Range. There are known occurrences in the Blue Mountains and Southern Highlands, in the Clarence River catchment, and on a few coastal swamps from north of Grafton to Nadgee in the south. The giant dragonfly is listed as endangered under the New South Wales Threatened Species Conservation Act.
The giant dragonfly is unusual not only in size, but also in having predominantly terrestrial habits at the larval stage. It usually rests in sedges or shrubs while in mating and this usually occurs within a wetland area or an ecosystem based on peat (the accumulation of decayed vegetation or organic matter). Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Booderee National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Blue Mountains National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Southeastern Petaltail sighting in Booderee National Park on a given day, based on 6 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 33rd most-seen of the 59 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 60%, if each day is a fresh chance.
November and December
In those months about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Southeastern Petaltail in Booderee National Park on a given day, against under 5% in February to October, the lowest months.
Between 10 am and 1 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Southeastern Petaltail sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Yes
Of the 2 parks where we can rate Southeastern Petaltail sightings, Booderee National Park has the highest daily chance: about 10%. Next come Blue Mountains National Park (Australia, about 10%).
Same order: Odonata
The closest relatives of the Southeastern Petaltail that you can see in Booderee National Park (order Odonata, Dragonflies and Damselflies) are Fiery Skimmer (about 20%), Common Flatwing (about 10%) and Tau Emerald (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Southeastern Petaltail is recorded against all the insects logged in Booderee National Park (6 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
