Corduliidae, also knowns as the emeralds, emerald dragonflies, or green-eyed skimmers, is a family of dragonflies. These dragonflies are usually black or dark brown with areas of metallic green or yellow, and most of them have large, emerald-green eyes. The larvae are black, hairy-looking, and usually semiaquatic. This family include species called "baskettails", "emeralds", "sundragons", "shadowdragons", and "boghaunters". They are not uncommon and are found nearly worldwide, but some individual species are quite rare. Hine's emerald dragonfly, for example, is an endangered species in the United States.
Somatochlora, or the striped emeralds, is a genus of dragonflies in the family Corduliidae with 42 described species found across the Northern Hemisphere.
Antipodochlora is a genus of dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. It contains the following species:
Austrocordulia leonardi is a species of dragonfly in the family Austrocorduliidae, commonly known as the Sydney hawk. It is a medium-sized black and yellow dragonfly, endemic to the Sydney Basin, New South Wales, Australia, where its natural habitat is rivers and dams.
Lathrocordulia garrisoni is a species of dragonfly in the family Austrocorduliidae. It is also known as the Queensland swiftwing. It is endemic to north-eastern Australia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
The Bulgarian emerald, Corduliochlora borisi, is a species of dragonfly in the family Corduliidae, and the only species in the genus Corduliochlora. It is found in Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey. Its natural habitat is rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss. The species is named after Boris Marinov. It was formerly treated as a member of the genus Somatochlora.
The incurvate emerald is a species of dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. It is found in Canada and the United States. Its natural habitat is fens.
Somatochlora sahlbergi, the treeline emerald, is a species of dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. It is found at high latitudes across northern Eurasia and North America, and occurs farther north than any other dragonfly.
The tau emerald is a species of dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. Corduliidae is the only family not a clade within the Infraorder Anisoptera. The species was first described by Edmond de Sélys Longchamps in 1871.
The Australian emerald is a species of dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. It can be found in Australia, Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island, Lesser Sunda Islands and New Zealand. It is a small to medium-sized, long-legged dragonfly coloured black-metallic and yellow. In both males and females the inboard edge of the hindwing is rounded.
Hemicordulia continentalis is a species of dragonfly in the family Corduliidae, known as the fat-bellied emerald. It inhabits pools, lakes, ponds and swamps in coastal Queensland and northern New South Wales, Australia.
Hemicordulia kalliste is a species of dragonfly in the family Corduliidae, known as the slender emerald. It is uncommon and has been found in both Arnhem Land and Cape York, Australia.
Hemicordulia superba is a species of dragonfly in the family Corduliidae, known as the superb emerald. It inhabits rivers, pools and lakes in south-eastern Queensland and northern New South Wales in Australia.
Procordulia jacksoniensis is a species of dragonfly in the family Corduliidae, known as the eastern swamp emerald. It inhabits rivers, pools and lakes in eastern Australia, from Brisbane through New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, and around Adelaide in South Australia.
Austrocordulia refracta is a species of dragonfly in the family Austrocorduliidae, commonly known as the eastern hawk. It is a medium-sized, dull brown dragonfly, endemic to eastern Australia, where it inhabits streams and pools.
Austrocordulia territoria is a species of dragonfly in the family Austrocorduliidae, commonly known as the Top End hawk. It is a medium-sized, black and yellow dragonfly, endemic to coastal Northern Territory, Australia, where it inhabits streams.
Micromidia convergens is a species of dragonfly in the family Austrocorduliidae, known as the early mosquitohawk. It is a small to medium-sized, black to metallic green dragonfly with pale markings on its abdomen. It is endemic to eastern Australia, where it inhabits rainforest streams.
Pseudocordulia circularis is a species of dragonfly in the family Pseudocorduliidae, known as the circle-tipped mistfly. It is a medium-sized, bronze-black dragonfly with clear wings. It is endemic to north-eastern Queensland, Australia, where it inhabits rainforest streams.
Pseudocordulia elliptica is a species of dragonfly in the family Pseudocorduliidae, known as the ellipse-tipped mistfly. It is a medium-sized, bronze-black dragonfly with clear wings. It is endemic to north-eastern Queensland, Australia, where it inhabits rainforest streams.
Somatochlora dido is a species of dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. It is known from southeastern China and northern Vietnam, but populations in Vietnam may alternatively represent a separate, undescribed, species. S. dido has sometimes been treated as synonymous with S. taiwana from Taiwan, but more recent publications have treated them as separate species. S. shennong is also closely related.
