The Gomphidae are a

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

dragonflies A dragonfly is a flying insect belonging to the infraorder Anisoptera below the order Odonata. About 3,000 extant species of true dragonfly are known. Most are tropical, with fewer species in temperate regions. Loss of wetland habitat threa ...

commonly referred to as clubtails or club-tailed dragonflies. The family contains about 90 genera and 900 species found across North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The name refers to the club-like widening of the end of the abdomen (abdominal segments 7 through 9). However, this club is usually less pronounced in females and is entirely absent in some species.

Etymology

The name may be derived from Latin ''gomphus'' or ''gond'' meaning "hinge".

Characteristics

Clubtails have small, widely separated

compound eye A compound eye is a visual organ found in arthropods such as insects and crustaceans. It may consist of thousands of ommatidia, which are tiny independent photoreception units that consist of a cornea, lens, and photoreceptor cells which disti ...

s, a trait they share with the

Petaluridae The petaltails of the family Petaluridae are apparently the most ancient of the extant true dragonflies (infraorder Anisoptera), having fossil members from as early as the Jurassic (over 150 million years ago). Modern petalurids include only 11 ...

and with

damselflies 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 eyes are blue, turquoise, or green. The thorax in most species is pale with dark stripes, and the pattern of the stripes is often diagnostic. They lack the bright metallic colors of many dragonfly groups and are mostly cryptically colored to avoid detection and little difference between the sexes is seen. Adults are usually from in length; there are 6 specific variations that are native to Africa alone, and vary from in length; there are also 97 varieties specific to North America as well, url=http://cfb.unh.edu/StreamKey/html/organisms/OOdonata/SO_Anisoptera/FGomphidae/Gomphidae.html, url=http://addo.adu.org.za/index.php?taxon_id=46000 Clubtails are fast-flying dragonflies with short flight seasons. They spend much time at rest, perching in a suitable position to dart forth to

prey Predation is a biological interaction where one organism, the predator, kills and eats another organism, its prey. It is one of a family of common feeding behaviours that includes parasitism and micropredation (which usually do not kill the ...

on flying insects. They tend to perch on the ground or on leaves with the abdomen sloping up and its tip curling down a little. Larger species may perch with a drooping abdomen or lie flat on a leaf. Another stance adopted by clubtails perching in the open is "obelisking", standing with the abdomen raised vertically, a posture adopted otherwise only by the skimmers. Most clubtails breed in streams, rivers, or lakes. The nymphs are unusual in having a flat mentum, part of the mouthparts, and their antennae have only four segments. They burrow in the sediment at the bottom of the water body, with the nymphs of the dragonhunter (''Hagenius brevistylus'') living among damp bark and leaf litter at the edge of the water. Some larvae variations actually differ from this typical burrowing. Some will only come out during daytime, which differs from the predominant nighttime emergence. Some larvae also will lay on flat surfaces, whereas most larvae prefer a vertical-type surface.

Gallery

File:IC Gomphidae wing.jpg, Gomphidae

wing A wing is a type of fin that produces lift while moving through air or some other fluid. Accordingly, wings have streamlined cross-sections that are subject to aerodynamic forces and act as airfoils. A wing's aerodynamic efficiency is expres ...

structure: Note the similar-sized triangles of the front and hind wings and the widely separate eyes. File:Yellow striped hunter mating.jpg, Pair of yellow-striped hunters mating File:Common Clubtail (Ictinogomphus rapax) W IMG 0224.jpg, Common clubtail, ''

Ictinogomphus rapax ''Ictinogomphus rapax'', the common clubtail, is a species of dragonfly in the family Gomphidae. It is found throughout the Indomalayan realm, Indomalayan region. Description and habitat It is a large yellow and black colored dragonfly with b ...

'' File:XN Gomphus vulgatissimus 689.jpg, '' Gomphus vulgatissimus'', showing the "clubbed" abdomen characteristic of the family File:Gomphus vulgatissimus eyes 004b.jpg, The common clubtail ''Gomphus vulgatissimus'' head with widely separated

eyes Eyes are organs of the visual system. They provide living organisms with vision, the ability to receive and process visual detail, as well as enabling several photo response functions that are independent of vision. Eyes detect light and conve ...

File:Lined Hooktail Paragomphus lineatus Male.jpg, '' Paragomphus lineatus'', male File:Lined Hooktail Paragomphus lineatus Female.jpg, '' Paragomphus lineatus'', female

Genera

These genera belong to the family Gomphidae. * '' Acrogomphus'' Laidlaw, 1925 * '' Agriogomphus'' Selys, 1869 * '' Amphigomphus'' Chao, 1954 * '' Anisogomphus'' Selys, 1858 * '' Anomalophlebia'' Belle, 1995 * '' Anormogomphus'' Selys, 1854 * '' Antipodogomphus'' Fraser, 1951 * '' Aphylla'' Selys, 1854 * '' Archaeogomphus'' Williamson, 1919 * '' Arigomphus'' Needham, 1897 * '' Armagomphus'' Carle, 1986 * '' Asiagomphus'' Asahina, 1985 * '' Austrogomphus'' Selys, 1854 * '' Brasiliogomphus'' Belle, 1995 * '' Burmagomphus'' Williamson, 1907 * '' Cacoides'' Cowley, 1934 * '' Ceratogomphus'' Selys, 1854 * '' Cinitogomphus'' Pinhey, 1964 * '' Cornigomphus'' Martin, 1907 * ''

Crenigomphus ''Crenigomphus'' is a genus of dragonfly in the family Gomphidae. It contains the following species: * ''Crenigomphus abyssinicus'' * ''Crenigomphus denticulatus'' * ''Crenigomphus hartmanni'' * ''Crenigomphus renei'' References

Gomphida ...

'' Selys, 1892 * '' Cyanogomphus'' Selys, 1873 * '' Cyclogomphus'' Selys, 1854 * '' Davidioides'' Fraser, 1924 * '' Davidius'' Selys, 1878 * '' Desmogomphus'' Williamson, 1920 * '' Diaphlebia'' Selys, 1854 * '' Diastatomma'' Burmeister, 1839 * '' Dromogomphus'' Selys, 1854 * '' Dubitogomphus'' Fraser, 1940 * '' Ebegomphus'' Needham, 1944 * '' Eogomphus'' Needham, 1941 * '' Epigomphus'' Hagen in Selys, 1854 * '' Erpetogomphus'' Selys, 1858 * '' Euthygomphus'' Kosterin, 2016 * '' Fukienogomphus'' Chao, 1954 * '' Gastrogomphus'' Needham, 1941 * ''

Gomphidia ''Gomphidia'' is a genus of dragonfly in the family Gomphidae. It contains the following species: *''Gomphidia abbotti'' *''Gomphidia aberrans'' *''Gomphidia balii'' *''Gomphidia bredoi'' *''Gomphidia caesarea'' *''Gomphidia confluens'' ...

'' Selys, 1854 * '' Gomphidictinus'' Fraser, 1942 * '' Gomphoides'' Selys, 1854 * '' Gomphurus'' Needham, 1901 * '' Gomphus'' Leach in Brewester, 1815 * ''

Hagenius The dragonhunter (''Hagenius brevistylus'') is a clubtail dragonfly of the eastern United States and southeastern Canada. The dragonfly is much larger than any other North American clubtail, at , with black and yellow markings and green eyes ...

'' Selys, 1854 * '' Heliogomphus'' Laidlaw, 1922 * ''

Hemigomphus ''Hemigomphus'' is a genus of dragonfly, dragonflies in the family Gomphidae, endemic to Australia. The species are small with black and yellow markings. They are commonly known as vicetails. Species The genus ''Hemigomphus'' includes the follo ...

'' Selys, 1854 * ''

Hylogomphus ''Hylogomphus'' is a genus of clubtails in the family of dragonflies known as Gomphidae. There are about six described species in ''Hylogomphus''. ''Hylogomphus'' was formerly considered a subgenus of ''Gomphus (dragonfly), Gomphus'', but has re ...

'' Needham, Westfall & May, 2000 * '' Ictinogomphus'' Cowley, 1934 * '' Idiogomphoides'' Belle, 1984 * ''

Isomma ''Isomma'' is a genus of dragonflies in the family Gomphidae. It is endemic to Madagascar Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de Madag ...

'' Selys, 1892 * '' Labrogomphus'' Needham, 1931 * '' Lamelligomphus'' Fraser, 1922 * ''

Lanthus ''Lanthus'' is a genus of Gomphidae, club-tailed dragonflies found in North America, commonly called pygmy clubtails. They are found in Japan and North America. The species are clear winged with black bodies and yellow markings. This genus inclu ...

'' Needham, 1897 * '' Leptogomphus'' Selys, 1878 * '' Lestinogomphus'' Martin, 1911 * '' Lindenia'' de Haan, 1826 * '' Macrogomphus'' Selys, 1858 * '' Malgassogomphus'' Cammaerts, 1987 * '' Mastigogomphus'' Cammaerts, 2004 * '' Megalogomphus'' Campion, 1923 * '' Melanocacus'' Belle, 1986 * '' Melligomphus'' Chao, 1990 * '' Merogomphus'' Martin, 1904 * '' Microgomphus'' Selys, 1858 * '' Mitragomphus'' Needham, 1944 * '' Neogomphus'' Selys, 1858 * '' Nepogomphoides'' Fraser, 1934 * '' Nepogomphus'' Fraser, 1934 * ''

Neurogomphus ''Neurogomphus'' is a genus of dragonfly in the family Gomphidae. It contains the following species: * ''Neurogomphus dissimilis'' * ''Neurogomphus featheri'' * ''Neurogomphus pinheyi'' * ''Neurogomphus zambeziensis'' References

Gomph ...

'' Karsch, 1890 * '' Nihonogomphus'' Oguma, 1926 * ''

Notogomphus ''Notogomphus'' is a genus of dragonfly, dragonflies in the family Gomphidae. It contains the following species: *''Notogomphus anaci'' *''Notogomphus butoloensis'' *''Notogomphus cottarellii'' *''Notogomphus dendrohyrax'' *''Notogomphus dorsali ...

'' Selys, 1858 * '' Nychogomphus'' Carle, 1986 * '' Octogomphus'' Selys, 1873 * '' Odontogomphus'' Watson, 1991 * '' Onychogomphus'' Selys, 1854 * ''

Ophiogomphus ''Ophiogomphus'', commonly known as snaketails, is a genus of dragonflies in the family Gomphidae. Most of the species in the genus ''Ophiogomphus'' have beautifully marked green club-shaped abdomens, which are more noticeable in the males. The ...

'' Selys, 1854 * '' Orientogomphus'' Chao & Xu, 1987 * '' Paragomphus'' Cowley, 1934 * '' Perigomphus'' Belle, 1972 * '' Perissogomphus'' Laidlaw, 1922 * '' Peruviogomphus'' Klots, 1944 * '' Phaenandrogomphus'' Lieftinck, 1964 * ''

Phanogomphus file:Day 116 - Oklahoma Clubtail - Gomphus oklahomensis?, Lake Houston Wilderness Park, New Caney, Texas - 17285264812.jpg, ''Phanogomphus oklahomensis'' ''Phanogomphus'' is a genus of clubtails in the family Gomphidae found in North America. Ther ...

'' Carle, 1986 * '' Phyllocycla'' Calvert, 1948 * '' Phyllogomphoides'' Belle, 1970 * '' Phyllogomphus'' Selys, 1854 * '' Platygomphus'' Selys, 1854 * '' Praeviogomphus'' Belle, 1995 * ''

Progomphus ''Progomphus'' is a genus of medium-sized dragonfly, dragonflies in the Family (biology), family Gomphidae. They are found in the Americas and are largely tropical. They are one of the few Gomphids with coloured wings. They are common name, com ...

'' Selys, 1854 * '' Scalmogomphus'' Chao, 1990 * '' Shaogomphus'' Chao, 1984 * ''

Sieboldius ''Sieboldius'' is a genus of dragonflies in the family Gomphidae. The genus occurs in Asia Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent o ...

'' Selys, 1854 * '' Sinictinogomphus'' Fraser, 1939 * '' Sinogomphus'' May, 1935 * '' Stenogomphurus'' Carle, 1986 * '' Stylogomphus'' Fraser, 1922 * ''

Stylurus ''Stylurus'' is a genus of dragonfly, dragonflies in the family Gomphidae. They are commonly known as hanging clubtails from their habit of hanging nearly vertically when they perch. The genus contains the following species: *''Stylurus amicus'' ...

'' Needham, 1897 * '' Tibiagomphus'' Belle, 1992 * '' Tragogomphus'' Sjöstedt, 1899 * '' Trigomphus'' Bartenev, 1911 * '' Zonophora'' Selys, 1854

Fossil genera

* †'' Auroradraco'' Archibald and Cannings 2019

Kamloops Group Kamloops ( ) is a city in south-central British Columbia, Canada, at the confluence of the South flowing North Thompson River and the West flowing Thompson River, east of Kamloops Lake. It is located in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District, w ...

, Canada,

Ypresian In the geologic timescale the Ypresian is the oldest age (geology), age or lowest stage (stratigraphy), stratigraphic stage of the Eocene. It spans the time between , is preceded by the Thanetian Age (part of the Paleocene) and is followed by th ...

* †'' Gunterbechya'' Huang et al 2019

Burmese amber Burmese amber, also known as Burmite or Kachin amber, is amber from the Hukawng Valley in northern Myanmar. The amber is dated to around 100 million years ago, during the latest Albian to earliest Cenomanian ages of the mid-Cretaceous period. The ...

Cenomanian The Cenomanian is, in the ICS' geological timescale, the oldest or earliest age of the Late Cretaceous Epoch or the lowest stage of the Upper Cretaceous Series. An age is a unit of geochronology; it is a unit of time; the stage is a unit in the s ...

* †'' Nannogomphus'' Handlirsch 1906

References

External links

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)Gomphidae, CLUBTAILS
Discover Life {{Taxonbar, from=Q505181 Aeshnoidea Odonata families Taxa named by Jules Pierre Rambur