| Austrocorduliidae | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Infraorder: | Anisoptera |
| Superfamily: | Libelluloidea |
| Family: | Austrocorduliidae Bechly, 1996 [1] |
Austrocorduliidae is a small family of dragonflies found in Australia and South Africa. [1] [2]
Members of Austrocorduliidae are medium-sized dragonflies, often with dark metallic colouring. They typically inhabit streams, rivers and forested wetlands, and several species are adapted to cool montane habitats. [2]
The World Odonata List (2025) recognises the following genera in Austrocorduliidae: [3]
Austrocorduliidae has had a complex taxonomic history. Although the family was generally associated with the superfamily Libelluloidea, its precise placement remained uncertain for many years, and its genera were variously assigned by different authors. [4]
Molecular and morphological analyses published in 2025 helped to resolve this uncertainty. These studies supported Austrocorduliidae as a distinct lineage within Libelluloidea and provided a clearer framework for the family’s composition. [5]
Some genera now included in Austrocorduliidae — such as Cordulephya — have previously been placed in other families, but are treated within Austrocorduliidae in the current World Odonata List (2025). [3]