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.
Aciagrion is a genus of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. Aciagrion are small and slender damselflies with a small head. They are found at still waters including swamps. Aciagrion is widely distributed in the tropics from Africa, through Indonesia to Australia. They are commonly known as Slims.
Ceriagrion is a genus of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. Species of Ceriagrion are small to medium size, generally brightly coloured damselflies. They are found across the Old World, Africa, Asia and Australia.
Chlorocypha is a genus of damselflies in the family Chlorocyphidae.
Elattoneura, the African threadtails, is a genus of damselflies in the family Platycnemididae. They were formerly placed in genus Prodasineura, but form a distinct clade. The adults are smallish and delicately built damselflies, and their males have very wide heads. The adults are typically found in sheltered locations beside or over running water, though a few prefer calmer water with much detritus. There appears to be two groups with differing habitat preferences. Those with pruinose faces and mostly blue eyes occupy watercourses in open terrain, while those with black or brightly coloured faces are found along forested streams.
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.
Neoneura is a genus of damselfly in the threadtail family Coenagrionidae. They are found in the Neotropics, from Cuba and Texas to Argentina.
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.
Phyllomacromia a large genus of dragonflies in the family Macromiidae. They are commonly known as cruisers.
Platycnemis is a genus of damselfly in the family Platycnemididae.
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.
Zygonyx is a genus of dragonflies in the family Libellulidae. They are commonly known as cascaders because of their preference for living beside waterfalls and flying through the spray. They lay their eggs in wet dangling roots.
The Protoneuridae are a family of damselflies. Most species are commonly known as threadtails, while others are commonly known as bambootails.
Prodasineura verticalis is a damselfly in the family Platycnemididae. It is commonly known as the red-striped black bambootail or black bambootail.
Coeliccia is a genus of damselflies in the family Platycnemididae. They are distributed in Asia from India to Japan to Indonesia. It is the largest genus in the family, with around 80 species.
Elattoneura tetrica, the black and yellow bambootail, is a damselfly species in the family Platycnemididae. It is endemic to Western Ghats in India.
