Wall's Grappletail (සුලබ කොකු අගිසැති බත්කූරා)

  

Wall’s Grappletail is a medium-sized dragonfly endemic to Sri Lanka, belonging to the Gomphidae family. All members of this family in Sri Lanka are black with pale yellowish or greenish markings.

Identification: A unique feature of Gomphidae dragonflies is the gap between their compound eyes, distinguishing them from other dragonfly families.

Habitat & Behavior: This species primarily inhabits lowland rainforests, submontane forests, and areas with dense canopy cover. Males are often seen perched on boulders along streams or riparian vegetation, maintaining territories.

Distribution: Wall’s Grappletail is a fairly common endemic species found in the wet zone and some parts of the intermediate zone, with females usually seen at streams during mating and egg-laying.