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Hi!

Can anyone help me to identify this odonata? I think it resembles Sympetrum fonscolombii, am I right?

location: Portalegre, Portugal
date: 2007/09/05

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yes, it is

cosmln

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Thank you cosmln:)

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I think it is still in the teneral stage. But there is already some red on the top of the abdomen which might indicate a male

Joaquim

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Thank you Joaquim. Actually I was just looking it up right now.

Can anyone else tell me if it's a male or a female?

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it is a female, almost mature coloration. when the below part of the eye will be more blue will be a mature one. that blue is specific for S.f. i was hoping that you have photographed S.sinaiticum is probable to be found in Portugal (not yet, at least from what i know).
by the way, an excellent image. i have only males in my photos.

cosmln

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Thank you again cosmln. I don't think I have S. sinaiticum photographed but I'll be on the lookout.

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Yes it is a female. She has a stouter abdomen than the male. the superior abdominal appendages are shorter, and there is no inferior abdominal appendice.
To compare, here is a photo of a newly emerged male of S.fonscolombii

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Here are two beautiful photos of females. You can find high resolution images in here: http://commons.wi...ragonflies

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and another one...

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the last one is a male (a young one). you can see the anal appendage very well.
mature male are bright red. the only similar (so red) one is Crocothemis erythraea.

again, excellent photos

cosmln

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Thank you all for your insight:).

Joaquim and Christine, your photos are great;)