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| Wildlife of Sri Lanka |
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Sri Lanka is a tropical island situated close to the southern tip of India. The invertebrate fauna is as large as it is common to other regions of the world. There are approximately 2 million known species of arthropods, and this number continues to grow. Thus, it is difficult to determine the exact number of Odonata species within particular regions. The following is a list of the dragonflies and damselflies of Sri Lanka.
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata.
Dragonflies are predators. The larvae inhabit water and adults fly near aquatic places. They are diverse in color and shape. There are major 2 types of odonates in the world; they are dragonflies and damselflies. The eyes are closer together in dragonflies, and their wings are held broadly opened from the body. They are robust in nature. In contrast, damselflies are delicately built small odonates, with well separated compound eyes. During rest, they do not expand their wings; the wings are folded over the abdomen or slightly spread.
Damselflies are categorized in to Suborder: Zygoptera; and dragonflies into Suborder: Anisoptera. 131 described species within 13 families can be found in Sri Lanka, with three new species in 2016. [1] [2]
The 65 endemic species and marked with an asterisk (*).
Damselflies are insect s of suborder Zygoptera in the order Odonata. They are similar to dragonflies, which constitute the other odonatan suborder, Anisoptera, but are smaller, have slimmer bodies, and most species fold the wings along the body when at rest. An ancient group, damselflies have existed since at least the Lower Permian, and are found on every continent except Antarctica.
All damselflies are predatory; both nymphs and adults eat other insects. The nymphs are aquatic, with different species living in a variety of freshwater habitats including acid bogs, ponds, lakes and rivers. The nymphs moult repeatedly, at the last moult climbing out of the water to undergo metamorphosis. The skin splits down the back, they emerge and inflate their wings and abdomen to gain their adult form. Their presence on a body of water indicates that it is relatively unpolluted, but their dependence on freshwater makes them vulnerable to damage to their wetland habitats.
64 Damselfly species can be found in Sri Lanka.
| Common name | Binomial | Local subspecies | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stream glory | Neurobasis chinensis | ssp.chinensis |  |  |
| Black-tipped forest glory | Vestalis apicalis | ssp.nigrescens* |  |  |
| Common name | Binomial | Local subspecies | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adam's gem | Libellago adami* | |||
| Ultima gem | Libellago finalis* | |||
| Green's gem | Libellago greeni* |  |  | |
| Corbett's gem | Libellago corbeti* |
| Common name | Binomial | Local subspecies | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shining gossamerwing | Euphaea splendens* |
| Common name | Binomial | Local subspecies | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka reedling | Indolestes divisus* | |||
| Mountain reedling | Indolestes gracilis | ssp.gracilis* |  |  |
| Emerald spreadwing | Lestes elatus |  |  | |
| Malabar spreadwing | Lestes malabaricus |  | ||
| Scalloped spreadwing | Lestes praemorsus | ssp.decipiens |  | |
| Emerald Sri Lanka spreadwing | Sinhalestes orientalis* |
| Common name | Binomial | Local subspecies | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green striped slender dartlet | Aciagrion occidentale |  |  | |
| Variable wisp | Agriocnemis femina | ssp.femina |  | |
| Pygmy wisp | Agriocnemis pygmaea |  |  | |
| Azure dartlet | Amphiallagma parvum |  |  | |
| Lieftinck's sprite | Archibasis lieftincki* |  | ||
| Long-banded bluetail | Archibasis oscillans | ssp. hanwellanensis* |  |  |
| Orange-tailed marsh dart | Ceriagrion cerinorubellum |  |  | |
| Coromandel marsh dart | Ceriagrion coromandelianum |  |  | |
| Golden dartlet | Ischnura aurora | ssp.aurora |  | |
| Marsh bluetail | Ischnura senegalensis |  |  | |
| Sri Lanka midget | Mortonagrion ceylonicum* | |||
| Three striped blue dart | Pseudagrion decorum |  |  | |
| Malabar sprite | Pseudagrion malabaricum |  |  | |
| Blue riverdamsel | Pseudagrion microcephalum |  |  | |
| Saffron-faced blue dart | Pseudagrion rubriceps | ssp.ceylonicum* |  |  |
| Common name | Binomial | Local subspecies | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Two-spotted threadtail | Elattoneura oculata* | |||
| Jungle threadtail | Elattoneura caesia* |  | ||
| Dark-glittering threadtail | Elattoneura centralis* | |||
| Smoky-winged threadtail | Elattoneura leucostigma* | |||
| Red-striped threadtail | Elattoneura tenax* | |||
| Stripe-headed threadtail | Prodasineura sita* | |||
| Marsh dancer | Onychargia atrocyana |  |  | |
| Yellow bush dart | Copera marginipes |  |  |
A dragonfly is an insect belonging to the order Odonata, suborder Anisoptera (from Greek ἄνισος anisos "uneven" and πτερόν pteron, "wing", because the hindwing is broader than the forewing). Adult dragonflies are characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong transparent wings, sometimes with coloured patches and an elongated body. Dragonflies can be mistaken for the related group, damselflies (Zygoptera), which are similar in structure, though usually lighter in build; however, the wings of most dragonflies are held flat and away from the body, while damselflies hold the wings folded at rest, along or above the abdomen. Dragonflies are agile fliers, while damselflies have a weaker, fluttery flight. Many dragonflies have brilliant iridescent or metallic colours produced by structural coloration, making them conspicuous in flight. An adult dragonfly eye has nearly 24,000 ommatidia.
Dragonflies are predators, both in their aquatic larval stage, when they are known as nymphs or naiads, and as adults. Several years of their lives are spent as nymphs living in fresh water; the adults may be on the wing for just a few days or weeks. They are fast, agile fliers, sometimes migrating across oceans, and are often found near water.
There are 65 Dragonfly species can be found in Sri Lanka.
| Common name | Binomial | Local subspecies | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donald's Hawker | Anaciaeschna donaldi |  | ||
| Pale-spotted emperor | Anax guttatus |  |  | |
| Magnificent emperor | Anax immaculifrons |  |  | |
| Lesser green emperor | Anax indicus |  |  | |
| Black emperor | Anax tristis |  | ||
| Vagrant emperor | Anax ephippiger |  | ||
| Brown darner | Gynacantha dravida |  |  | |
| Gynacantha millardi |  |  |
| Common name | Binomial | Local subspecies | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anisogomphus ceylonensis * | ||||
| Sinuate clubtail | Burmagomphus pyramidalis | ssp.sinuatus* | ||
| Cyclogomphus gynostylus * | ||||
| Rivulet tiger | Gomphidia pearsoni* | |||
| Lyrate grappletail | Heliogomphus lyratus* | | ||
| Nietner's grappletail | Heliogomphus nietneri* | |||
| Wall's grappletail | Heliogomphus walli* | |||
| Indian Common Clubtail | Ictinogomphus rapax |  |  | |
| Keiser's forktail | Macrogomphus annulatus* | ssp.keiseri* | ||
| Sri Lankan Forktail | Macrogomphus lankanensis* |  | ||
| Microgomphus wijaya * | ||||
| Sri Lanka sabretail | Megalogomphus ceylonicus* | |||
| Brook hooktail | Paragomphus henryi* | |||
| Paragomphus campestris * |
| Common name | Binomial | Local subspecies | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common torrent hawk | Epophthalmia vittata | ssp.cyanocephala* |  |  |
| Macromia flinti * | ||||
| Sri Lanka cruiser | Macromia zeylanica* |
| Common name | Binomial | Local subspecies | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asian pintail | Acisoma panorpoides | ssp.panorpoides |  |  |
| Scarlet marsh hawk | Aethriamanta brevipennis | ssp.brevipennis |  |  |
| Little Blue marsh hawk | Brachydiplax sobrina |  |  | |
| Ditch jewel | Brachythemis contaminata |  |  | |
| Granite ghost | Bradinopyga geminata |  |  | |
| Scarlet skimmer | Crocothemis servilia | ssp.servilia |  |  |
| Line forest-skimmer | Cratilla lineata | ssp.calverti |  |  |
| Black-tipped percher | Diplacodes nebulosa |  |  | |
| Chalky percher | Diplacodes trivialis |  |  | |
| Amber-winged marsh glider | Hydrobasileus croceus |  | ![Amber-winged Marsh Glider (Hydrobasileus croceus) female.,paanntt[?] prunt[?]. (43412314945).jpg](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/91/Amber-winged_Marsh_Glider_%28Hydrobasileus_croceus%29_female.%2C%E0%B4%AA%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%A3%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%9F%E0%B5%BB_%E0%B4%AA%E0%B4%B0%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%A8%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%BB._%2843412314945%29.jpg/200px-Amber-winged_Marsh_Glider_%28Hydrobasileus_croceus%29_female.%2C%E0%B4%AA%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%A3%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%9F%E0%B5%BB_%E0%B4%AA%E0%B4%B0%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%A8%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%BB._%2843412314945%29.jpg) | |
| Fruhstorfer's junglewatcher | Hylaeothemis fruhstorferi | ssp.fruhstorferi* | ||
| Black marsh skimmer | Indothemis carnatica |  |  | |
| Restless demon | Indothemis limbata | ssp.sita |  | |
| Asiatic blood tail | Lathrecista asiatica | ssp.asiatica |  |  |
| Lyriothemis defonsekai * |  | |||
| Coastal glider | Macrodiplax cora |  |  | |
| Paddyfield parasol | Neurothemis intermedia | ssp.intermedia |  |  |
| Pied paddy skimmer | Neurothemis tullia |  |  | |
| Aggressive riverhawk | Onychothemis tonkinensis | ssp.ceylanica | ||
| Spine-tufted skimmer | Orthetrum chrysis |  |  | |
| Blue marsh hawk | Orthetrum glaucum |  |  | |
| Marsh skimmer | Orthetrum luzonicum |  |  | |
| Crimson-tailed marsh hawk | Orthetrum pruinosum | ssp.neglectum |  |  |
| Slender skimmer | Orthetrum sabina | ssp.sabina |  |  |
| Blue-tailed forest hawk | Orthetrum triangulare | ssp.triangulare |  |  |
| Globe skimmer | Pantala flavescens |  |  | |
| Yellow-tailed ashy skimmer | Potamarcha congener |  |  | |
| Spine–legged redbolt | Rhodothemis rufa |  |  | |
| Sapphire flutterer | Rhyothemis triangularis |  | ||
| Common picture wing | Rhyothemis variegata | ssp.variegata |  |  |
| Red-veined darter | Sympetrum fonscolombii |  |  | |
| Elf | Tetrathemis yerburii* |  | ||
| Coral-tailed cloudwing | Tholymis tillarga |  |  | |
| Crimson marsh glider | Trithemis aurora |  |  | |
| Black stream glider | Trithemis festiva |  | ![Black stream glider (Trithemis festiva) female. kaa[?]ttumpi. (36741083730).jpg](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e9/Black_stream_glider_%28Trithemis_festiva%29_female._%E0%B4%95%E0%B4%BE%E0%B5%BC%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%AE%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%AA%E0%B4%BF._%2836741083730%29.jpg/200px-Black_stream_glider_%28Trithemis_festiva%29_female._%E0%B4%95%E0%B4%BE%E0%B5%BC%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%AE%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%AA%E0%B4%BF._%2836741083730%29.jpg) | |
| Dancing dropwing | Trithemis pallidinervis |  |  | |
| Keyhole glider | Tramea basilaris | ssp.burmeisteri |  |  |
| Black marsh trotter | Tramea limbata |  |  | |
| Greater crimson glider | Urothemis signata | ssp.signata |  |  |
| Emerald cascader | Zygonyx iris | ssp.ceylonicum |  | |
| Long-tailed duskdarter | Zyxomma petiolatum |  |  |
Odonata is an order of flying insects that includes the dragonflies and damselflies. Like most other flying insects, they evolved in the early Mesozoic era. Their prototypes, the giant dragonflies of the Carboniferous, 325 MYA, are no longer placed in the Odonata but included in the Protodonata or Meganisoptera.
A dragonfly is a flying insect belonging to the order Odonata, infraorder Anisoptera. Adult dragonflies are characterized by a pair of large, multifaceted compound eyes, two pairs of strong, transparent wings, sometimes with coloured patches, and an elongated body. Dragonflies can be mistaken for the closely related damselflies, which make up the other odonatan infraorder (Zygoptera) and are similar in body plan though usually lighter in build; however, the wings of most dragonflies are held flat and away from the body, while damselflies hold their wings folded at rest, along or above the abdomen. Dragonflies are agile fliers, while damselflies have a weaker, fluttery flight. Many dragonflies have brilliant iridescent or metallic colours produced by structural colouration, making them conspicuous in flight. An adult dragonfly's compound eyes have nearly 24,000 ommatidia each.
Damselflies are flying insects of the suborder Zygoptera in the order Odonata. They are similar to dragonflies, which constitute the other odonatan suborder, Anisoptera, but are smaller and have slimmer bodies. Most species fold the wings along the body when at rest, unlike dragonflies which hold the wings flat and away from the body. An ancient group, damselflies have existed since at least the Lower Permian, and are found on every continent except Antarctica.
The green darner or common green darner, after its resemblance to a darning needle, is a species of dragonfly in the family Aeshnidae. One of the most common and abundant species throughout North America, it also ranges south to Panama. It is well known for its great migration distance from the northern United States south into Texas and Mexico. It also occurs in the Caribbean, Tahiti, and Asia from Japan to mainland China. It is the official insect for the state of Washington in the United States.
The blue-tailed damselfly or common bluetail is a damselfly, belonging to the family Coenagrionidae.
The Calopterygidae are a family of damselflies, in the suborder Zygoptera. They are commonly known as the broad-winged damselflies, demoiselles, or jewelwings. These rather large damselflies have wingspans of 50–80 mm, are often metallic-coloured, and can be differentiated from other damselflies by the broader connection between the wings and the body, as opposed to the abrupt narrowing seen in other damselfly families. The family contains some 150 species.
The Himalayan relict dragonfly is one of four species of Epiprocta in the family Epiophlebiidae. They have at one time been classified as a suborder Anisozygoptera, considered as intermediate between the dragonflies and the damselflies, partly because the hind wings and fore wings are very similar in size and shape, and partly because the insect at rest holds them back over the body as damselflies do. These attributes now are known to be misleading however; the genus Epiophlebia shares a more recent ancestor with dragonflies and became separated from other Anisoptera in and around the uplifting Himalayas.
Somatochlora, or the striped emeralds, is a genus of dragonflies in the family Corduliidae with 42 described species found across the Northern Hemisphere.
Megaloprepus caerulatus is a damselfly of the Forest Giant family (Pseudostigmatidae), found in wet and moist forests in Central and South America. It has the greatest wingspan of any living damselfly or dragonfly, up to 19 centimeters (7.5 inches) in the largest males. Its large size and the markings on its wings make it a conspicuous species; a hovering Megaloprepus has been described as a "pulsating blue-and-white beacon".
Austrolestes colensonis, commonly known as the blue damselfly, is a species of damselfly of the family Lestidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and can commonly be found throughout the country, and at any time of the year. It is New Zealand's largest damselfly, and only blue odonate.
Indolestes gracilis is a species of damselfly in the family Lestidae. It is known only from Sri Lanka, South India and Cambodia.
Drepanosticta subtropica is a species of damselfly in the family Platystictidae. It is endemic to Sri Lanka. The species was recorded for the first time after 83 years, along with three new species from Samanala Nature Reserve.
Anax indicus is a species of dragonfly in the family Aeshnidae. It is found in India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
Bradinopyga geminata is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae known commonly as the granite ghost. It is native to India, Sri Lanka and Thailand, where it is a common and widespread species.
Odonata are insects with an incomplete metamorphosis (hemimetabolous). The aquatic larva or nymph hatches from an egg, and develops through eight to seventeen instars before leaving the water and emerging as the winged adult or imago.
Ceylonosticta alwisi is a species of damselfly in the family Platystictidae. It is endemic to Sri Lanka, which was found recently from Samanala Nature Reserve, Ratnapura.
Alwisi's shadowdamsel is a species of damselfly in the family Platystictidae. It is endemic to Sri Lanka, which was found recently from Samanala Nature Reserve, Ratnapura.
Ceylonosticta rupasinghe is a species of damselfly in the family Platystictidae. It is endemic to Sri Lanka, which was found recently from Samanala Nature Reserve, Ratnapura.
Indosticta deccanensis, saffron reedtail is a damselfly species in the family Platystictidae. It is endemic to Western Ghats in India.
