The skimmers or perchers and their relatives form the Libellulidae, the largest dragonfly family in the world. It is sometimes considered to contain the Corduliidae as the subfamily Corduliinae and the Macromiidae as the subfamily Macromiinae. Even if these are excluded, there remains a family of over 1000 species. With nearly worldwide distribution, these are almost certainly the most often seen of all dragonflies.
The insect family Coenagrionidae is placed in the order Odonata and the suborder Zygoptera. The Zygoptera are the damselflies, which although less known than the dragonflies, are no less common. More than 1,300 species are in this family, making it the largest damselfly family. The family Coenagrionidae has six subfamilies: Agriocnemidinae, Argiinae, Coenagrioninae, Ischnurinae, Leptobasinae, and Pseudagrioninae.
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.
Burmagomphus is a genus of dragonfly in the family Gomphidae. It contains the following species:
Gomphidia is a genus of dragonfly in the family Gomphidae. It contains the following species:
Gynacantha is a genus of dragonflies in the family Aeshnidae. The females have two prominent spines under the last abdominal segment. This gives the genus name and the common name two-spined darners; they are also known as duskhawkers.
Hemicordulia is a genus of dragonfly in family Corduliidae. It occurs in Africa, southern Asia, Australasia and Pacific Islands such as the Bonin Islands, Fiji and French Polynesia. Species of Hemicordulia are small to medium-sized dragonflies, coloured black or metallic, with yellow.
Indolestes is a genus of damselflies in the family Lestidae. Species of Indolestes can be medium-sized, dull coloured dragonflies. They are found from India through Asia, Australia and the Pacific.
Macrogomphus is a genus of dragonfly in the family Gomphidae. It contains the following species:
Onychogomphus is a genus of dragonflies in the family Gomphidae. They are commonly known as pincertails.
Paragomphus is a genus of dragonfly in the family Gomphidae. They are commonly known as hooktails.
Platycnemis is a genus of damselfly in the family Platycnemididae.
Prodasineura, the Asian threadtails, is a genus of damselflies in the family Protoneuridae. All the Afrotropical species formerly in this genus are now placed in Elattoneura, the African threadtails. Dijkstra et al. (2014) moved the genus from Protoneuridae to Platycnemididae based on molecular phylogenetic research.
Pseudagrion is the largest genus of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae, with over 140 species. Its range includes most of Africa, much of Asia, and Australia. Africa holds most of the diversity with almost 100 species. It has occupied most of the freshwater habitats in its range, and dominates damselfly communities in habitats as different as desert pools, equatorial rainforests and montane streams.
Rhinocypha is a genus of damselflies in the family Chlorocyphidae.
Teinobasis is a genus of damselflies in the family Coenagrionidae. Species occur in south-eastern Asia, Indonesia, Solomon Islands and Micronesia; one species, Teinobasis rufithorax, is found in Australia.
Nannophlebia is a genus of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. They are commonly known as Archtails. The species are very small with black and yellow striped abdomens.
Huonia is a genus of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. Species of this genus are found in Indonesia, New Guinea and Australia.
Palaiargia ernstmayri is a species of broad-winged damselfly in the family Platycnemididae. The species is endemic to the Arfak Mountains of New Guinea, with only four observations to date.
