Parts of this article (those related to the families list and "Recent taxonomic changes" section) need to be updated. The reason given is: After Goodman et al. (2025), which is already being followed by World Odonata List as of writing, the superfamily now includes 13 families, not just four. Notably some of the "invalid" families as here listed have been restored (e.g. Pseudocorduliidae and Gomphomacromiidae), and three new families have been established.(November 2025) |
| Libelluloidea Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
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| Orthetrum sabina | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Infraorder: | Anisoptera |
| Clade: | Cavilabiata |
| Superfamily: | Libelluloidea Leach, 1815 [1] |
| Families | |
| |
| Synonyms | |
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Libelluloidea is a superfamily of dragonflies. [2]
A 2013 phylogenetic analysis suggests that this superfamily contains four families: [3] [2]
The following dragonfly families are now considered invalid or potentially disputed: [3] [4] [5] [6]
The following genera are no longer assigned to a family and are now placed incertae sedis within this superfamily, Libelluloidea: [2] [3]
The following extinct fossil taxa are also included in Libelluloidea: [6] [7]
This superfamily is one of two extant groups in the large, ancient clade Cavilabiata, in addition to Cordulegastroidea. [9] The oldest known member is Araripelibellula brittanica from the Berriasian of England. [10]