| Nighthawk | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Infraorder: | Anisoptera |
| Family: | Austrocorduliidae |
| Genus: | Apocordulia Watson, 1980 [2] |
| Species: | A. macrops |
| Binomial name | |
| Apocordulia macrops | |
| | |
Apocordulia is a genus of dragonflies in the family Austrocorduliidae, [3] endemic to the Murray-Darling Basin in eastern Australia. [4]
Apocordulia is a monotypic genus with only one species, Apocordulia macrops, [5] [6] commonly known as a nighthawk. [4] Apocordulia macrops is a medium-sized, dull coloured dragonfly with large eyes. [4] It inhabits inland rivers [7] and flies at dawn and dusk. [8]
The word Apocordulia is derived from two words: apo from the Greek ἀπό meaning from or away, and Cordulia the genus of dragonfly. Tony Watson described the dragonfly genus Apocordulia as appearing different to the normal appearance of a Cordulia dragonfly. [2] [9]
The species name macrops is derived from two Greek words makros (μακρός) meaning long, and ops (ὤψ) meaning eye, describing the long eye seam. [2] [9]
In earlier higher-level classifications, the placement of Apocordulia was uncertain and it was considered incertae sedis within the superfamily Libelluloidea. [10]
A comprehensive phylogenetic revision of emerald and tigertail dragonflies by Goodman et al. (2025) reinstated the family Austrocorduliidae (stat. rev.) and showed that Apocordulia belongs within that family. [11]
This reflects current understanding of relationships within the Libelluloidea, replacing earlier treatments that placed Apocordulia variously in Corduliidae or Synthemistidae. [12]