Corduliidae, also knowns as the emeralds, emerald dragonflies, or green-eyed skimmers, is a family of dragonflies. These dragonflies are usually black or dark brown with areas of metallic green or yellow, and most of them have large, emerald-green eyes. The larvae are black, hairy-looking, and usually semiaquatic. This family include species called "baskettails", "emeralds", "sundragons", "shadowdragons", and "boghaunters". They are not uncommon and are found nearly worldwide, but some individual species are quite rare. Hine's emerald dragonfly, for example, is an endangered species in the United States.
The northern emerald is a middle-sized species of dragonfly first described by Johan Wilhelm Zetterstedt in 1840. The male can be recognised by its pincer-like appendages and its narrow-waisted body. The female has distinctive orange-yellow spots on (only) the third segment of the abdomen.
Somatochlora, or the striped emeralds, is a genus of dragonflies in the family Corduliidae with 42 described species found across the Northern Hemisphere.
The Quebec Emerald or Robert's Emerald is a species of dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. It is one of 42 species in the genus Somatochlora found in the Northern Hemisphere. It is one of the rarest members of the Odonata to be found in Canada and one of the most recently described. Adrien Robert, a Canadian entomologist, Cleric of Saint Viator, and professor at the University of Montreal, first described S. brevicincta in 1954.
Somatochlora sahlbergi, the treeline emerald, is a species of dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. It is found at high latitudes across northern Eurasia and North America, and occurs farther north than any other dragonfly.
Somatochlora flavomaculata, also called yellow-spotted emerald, is a common species of dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. Its distribution stretches from France to Siberia and Mongolia. It frequents wetlands in its range. The males are known to defend their territory.
Anax walsinghami is a species of dragonfly in the family Aeshnidae (darners), in the suborder Anisoptera ("dragonflies"). The species is known generally as the giant darner or giant green darner. The distribution range of Anax walsinghami includes Central America and North America. At up to 120 mm (4.7 in) in wingspan and with a typical body length of 89–117 mm (3.5–4.6 in), it is North America's largest dragonfly, although exceeded by the closely related giant Hawaiian darner.
Somatochlora albicincta, the ringed emerald, is a species of emerald dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. It is found in North America.
Somatochlora filosa, the fine-lined emerald, is a species of emerald dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. It is found in North America.
Somatochlora franklini, the delicate emerald, is a species of emerald dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. It is found in North America.
Somatochlora provocans, the treetop emerald, is a species of emerald dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. It is found in North America.
Somatochlora whitehousei, or Whitehouse's emerald, is a species of emerald dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. It is found in North America.
Somatochlora georgiana, the coppery emerald, is a species of emerald dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. It is found in North America.
Somatochlora hudsonica, the Hudsonian emerald, is a species of emerald dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. It is found in North America.
Somatochlora walshii, the brush-tipped emerald, is a species of emerald dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. It is found in North America.
Somatochlora tenebrosa, the clamp-tipped emerald, is a species of emerald dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. It is found in North America.
Somatochlora cingulata, the lake emerald, is a species of emerald dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. It is found in North America.
Somatochlora semicircularis, the mountain emerald, is a species of emerald dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. It is found in North America.
Somatochlora linearis, the mocha emerald, is a species of emerald dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. It is found in North America.
Somatochlora forcipata, the forcipate emerald, is a species of emerald dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. It is found in North America.
