---
title: "Golden-ringed Dragonfly"
description: "Cordulegaster boltonii — Insects & spiders. The golden-ringed dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii) is a large, striking species of dragonfly found widely in Europe and locally in northwestern Africa, especially near flowing waters like streams."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/animal/golden-ringed-dragonfly
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Golden-ringed Dragonfly

> Cordulegaster boltonii — Insects & spiders. The golden-ringed dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii) is a large, striking species of dragonfly found widely in Europe and locally in northwestern Africa, especially near flowing waters like streams.

- Scientific name: *Cordulegaster boltonii*
- Category: `insects` (Insects & spiders)
- Habitats: `freshwater` (Lakes & rivers)
- iNaturalist observations: 9876
- Wikidata: [Q232843](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q232843)
- iNaturalist taxon: [85057](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/85057)

## Names

- en: Golden-ringed Dragonfly
- de: Zweigestreifte Quelljungfer
- es: Guardarroyo común
- fr: Cordulégastre annelé
- nl: Gewone bronlibel
- pl: Szklarnik leśny

## Countries with the most observations

GB (2444), FR (2055), ES (1681), IT (629), PT (570), DE (486), RU (304), CH (136), SE (88), CZ (77), AT (66), FI (55)

## Summary

The golden-ringed dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii) is a large, striking species of dragonfly found widely in Europe and locally in northwestern Africa, especially near flowing waters like streams. It is the longest British species of dragonfly, and the only member of its genus to be found in the United Kingdom.

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden-ringed_dragonfly

## Photo

![Golden-ringed Dragonfly](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/golden-ringed-dragonfly/medium.jpg)

Photo: Patrick Le Mao · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/146469889

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/golden-ringed-dragonfly?lang=en` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).