The Cordulegastridae are a family of Odonata (dragonflies) from the suborder Anisoptera. They are commonly known as spiketails. Some vernacular names for the species of this family are biddie and flying adder. They have large, brown or black bodies with yellow markings, and narrow unpatterned wings. Their bright eyes touch at a single point, and they can be found along small, clear, woodland streams, flying slowly 30 to 70 cm above the water. When disturbed, however, they can fly very rapidly. They usually hunt high in forest vegetation, and prefer to capture prey resting on leaves or branches.
Cordulegaster is a genus of dragonfly in the family Cordulegastridae. It contains the following species:
Cordulegaster sayi, commonly known as Say's spiketail, is a species of dragonfly in the family Cordulegastridae endemic to the United States.
Cordulegaster dorsalis is a dragonfly in the family Cordulegastridae.
Cordulegaster diadema, commonly known as the Apache spiketail, is a species of dragonfly in the family Cordulegastridae. The mature adult is usually 74-88 millimeters long. It ranges from southwestern United States to Mexico and Costa Rica. The back of the head is yellow to brown with yellow to black hairs, though some have been reported with a black head with white hairs. The first proximal segment of the legs are yellow. The thorax has two lateral stripes with a yellow stripe between them.
Cordulegaster maculata, also known as the twin-spotted spiketail, is a dragonfly of the family Cordulegastridae. Its body length varies in size from 2.5 to 3.0 inches. It was described by Edmond de Sélys Longchamps in 1854.
Ophiogomphus australis, the southern snaketail, is a dragonfly in the genus Ophiogomphus ("snaketails"), in the family Gomphidae ("clubtails"). Ophiogomphus australis is found in North America.
Arigomphus maxwelli is a dragonfly in the genus Arigomphus, in the family Gomphidae ("clubtails"). A common name for Arigomphus maxwelli is "bayou clubtail". Arigomphus maxwelli is found in North America.
Anax walsinghami is a species of dragonfly in the family Aeshnidae (darners), in the suborder Anisoptera ("dragonflies"). The species is known generally as the giant darner or giant green darner. The distribution range of Anax walsinghami includes Central America and North America.
Ischnura demorsa is a damselfly in the genus Ischnura ("forktails"), in the family Coenagrionidae. The species is known generally as the "Mexican forktail". The distribution range of Ischnura demorsa includes Central America and North America.
Aphylla williamsoni, known generally as the "two-striped forceptail", is a species of clubtails in the family Gomphidae. It is found in North America.
Somatochlora elongata, the ski-tipped emerald or ski-tailed emerald, is a species of dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. It is found in North America.
Paltothemis lineatipes, or red rock skimmer, is a species of skimmers in the family Libellulidae. It is found in the Americas.
Libellula comanche, the Comanche skimmer, is a species of skimmer in the family Libellulidae. It is found in Central America and North America.
Enallagma weewa, the blackwater bluet, is a species of narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is found in North America.
Leucorrhinia patricia, the Canada whiteface, is a species of skimmer in the family Libellulidae. It is found in North America.
Libellula auripennis, the golden-winged skimmer, is a species of skimmer in the family Libellulidae. It is found in North America.
Cordulegaster obliqua, the arrowhead spiketail, is a species of spiketail in the dragonfly family Cordulegastridae. It is found in North America, often in clearings near small rivers and streams. The larvae can be found surviving in streams designated as intermittent, and may live up to 5 years before emerging as an adult in early summer.
Cordulegaster bilineata, the brown spiketail, is a species of spiketail in the dragonfly family Cordulegastridae. It is found in North America.
Cordulegaster diastatops, the delta-spotted spiketail, is a species of spiketail in the family of dragonflies known as Cordulegastridae. It is found in North America.
