The Aeshnidae, also called aeshnids, hawkers, or darners, is a family of dragonflies. The family includes the largest dragonflies found in North America and Europe and among the largest dragonflies on the planet.
The skimmers or perchers and their relatives form the Libellulidae, the largest dragonfly family in the world. It is sometimes considered to contain the Corduliidae as the subfamily Corduliinae and the Macromiidae as the subfamily Macromiinae. Even if these are excluded, there remains a family of over 1000 species. With nearly worldwide distribution, these are almost certainly the most often seen of all dragonflies.
The insect family Coenagrionidae is placed in the order Odonata and the suborder Zygoptera. The Zygoptera are the damselflies, which although less known than the dragonflies, are no less common. More than 1,300 species are in this family, making it the largest damselfly family. The family Coenagrionidae has six subfamilies: Agriocnemidinae, Argiinae, Coenagrioninae, Ischnurinae, Leptobasinae, and Pseudagrioninae.
The Gomphidae are a family of dragonflies commonly referred to as clubtails or club-tailed dragonflies. The family contains about 90 genera and 900 species found across North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The name refers to the club-like widening of the end of the abdomen. However, this club is usually less pronounced in females and is entirely absent in some species.
The Platycnemididae are a family of damselflies. They are known commonly as white-legged damselflies. There are over 400 species native to the Old World. The family is divided into several subfamilies.
Aciagrion is a genus of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. Aciagrion are small and slender damselflies with a small head. They are found at still waters including swamps. Aciagrion is widely distributed in the tropics from Africa, through Indonesia to Australia. They are commonly known as Slims.
Argiocnemis is a genus of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. Species of Argiocnemis are generally small to medium-sized damselflies, darkly coloured with pale markings. They occur in Africa, Indian Ocean islands, South-east Asia, New Guinea and Australia.
Ceriagrion is a genus of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. Species of Ceriagrion are small to medium size, generally brightly coloured damselflies. They are found across the Old World, Africa, Asia and Australia.
Gomphidia is a genus of dragonfly in the family Gomphidae. It contains the following species:
Gynacantha is a genus of dragonflies in the family Aeshnidae. The females have two prominent spines under the last abdominal segment. This gives the genus name and the common name two-spined darners; they are also known as duskhawkers.
Indolestes is a genus of damselflies in the family Lestidae. Species of Indolestes can be medium-sized, dull coloured dragonflies. They are found from India through Asia, Australia and the Pacific.
Ischnura is a genus of damselflies known as forktails in the family Coenagrionidae. Forktails are distributed worldwide, including various oceanic islands. The males have a forked projection at the tip of the abdomen which gives the group their common name.
Onychogomphus is a genus of dragonflies in the family Gomphidae. They are commonly known as Pincertails.
Prodasineura, the Asian threadtails, is a genus of damselflies in the family Protoneuridae. All the Afrotropical species formerly in this genus are now placed in Elattoneura, the African threadtails. Dijkstra et al. (2014) moved the genus from Protoneuridae to Platycnemididae based on molecular phylogenetic research.
Pseudagrion is the largest genus of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae, with over 140 species. Its range includes most of Africa, much of Asia, and Australia. Africa holds most of the diversity with almost 100 species. It has occupied most of the freshwater habitats in its range, and dominates damselfly communities in habitats as different as desert pools, equatorial rainforests and montane streams.
Teinobasis is a genus of damselflies in the family Coenagrionidae. Species occur in south-eastern Asia, Indonesia, Solomon Islands and Micronesia; one species, Teinobasis rufithorax, is found in Australia.
Tetrathemis is a genus of dragonflies in the family Libellulidae. Species of Tetrathemis are found in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, New Guinea and Australia.
Archibasis is a genus of damselflies belonging to the family Coenagrionidae. These damselflies are generally medium-sized with bright colouring. Archibasis occurs in southern Asia, Indonesia, New Guinea and Australia.
