| Cordulegastroidea Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Delta-spotted spiketail (Cordulegaster diastatops) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Infraorder: | Anisoptera |
| Superfamily: | Cordulegastroidea |
| Families | |
3, see text | |
Cordulegastroidea is a superfamily of dragonflies that contains three families. [1]
This superfamily includes the following three families: [1]
The oldest known fossil member of Cordulegastroidea is the family Araripechlorogomphidae (containing only Araripechlorogomphus ) from the late Aptian of Brazil, which is thought to be related to the Chlorogomphidae. [2]
The petaltails of the family Petaluridae are among the most ancient of the extant true dragonflies, having fossil members from as early as the Jurassic, over 150 million years ago.
The insect family Macromiidae contains the dragonfly species known as cruisers or skimmers. They tend to fly over bodies of water straight down the middle. They are similar to Aeshnidae in size, but the eyes are green and just barely meet at the top of the head.
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, Australia, and Africa. 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.
Idomacromia is a genus of dragonflies in the family Synthemistidae, which is earlier treated as a subfamily of Corduliidae. According to World Odonata List, this genera is best considered incertae sedis.
The Protoneuridae are a family of damselflies. Most species are commonly known as threadtails, while others are commonly known as bambootails.
The Megapodagrionidae are a family of damselflies, commonly called flatwings for their habit of spreading out the hind wings horizontally when at rest.
Platystictidae is a family of damselflies, commonly known as shadowdamsels. They look very similar to the threadtail damselfly family (Protoneuridae). They can mostly be found throughout Asia, Central America, and South America.
The Synlestidae are a family of damselflies commonly known as sylphs or malachites. They occur in South Africa, Australia, and South America.
The Lestoideidae are a family of damselflies occurring in South-east Asia, New Guinea and Australia. The family comprises two genera and nine species.
Coenagrionoidea is a superfamily of closed wing damselflies of the order Odonata found worldwide.
Aeshnoidea is a superfamily of dragonflies that contains two extant families, Aeshnidae and Austropetaliidae.
Libelluloidea is a superfamily of dragonflies.
Hemiphlebiidae is a family of damselflies. It contains only one extant species, the ancient greenling, native to Southern Australia and Tasmania. The fossil record of the group extends back to the Late Jurassic, making them the oldest known crown group damselflies.
The Perilestidae are a family of damselflies commonly known as shortwings and twigtails. It is a small family of around 19 species. All extant species are native to the Neotropical realm. In the past Nubiolestes of Africa was included in this family, but this is doubted. Palaeoperilestes electronicus is an extinct species described from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber.
The Stenophlebiidae is an extinct family of medium-sized to large fossil odonates from the Upper Jurassic and Cretaceous period that belongs to the damsel-dragonfly grade ("anisozygopteres") within the stem group of Anisoptera. They are characterized by their long and slender wings, and the transverse shape of the discoidal triangles in their wing venation.
Cordulephyidae is a small family of dragonflies occurring in Africa and Australia. Members of Cordulephyidae can be small to tiny, black and yellow dragonflies.
Lindeniidae is a family of dragonflies occurring in Australia.
Lestoidea is a superfamily of damselflies of the order Odonata. It includes four families:
Calopterygoidea is a superfamily of damselflies in the order Odonata.
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