''Prodasineura'', the Asian threadtails, is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

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 ...

in the family Protoneuridae. All the

Afrotropical The Afrotropical realm is one of Earth's eight biogeographic realms. It includes Africa south of the Sahara Desert, the majority of the Arabian Peninsula, the island of Madagascar, southern Iran and extreme southwestern Pakistan, and the island ...

species formerly in this genus are now placed in ''

Elattoneura ''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 thei ...

'', the African threadtails. Dijkstra et al. (2014) moved the genus (and related ''Elattoneura'') from Protoneuridae to Platycnemididae based on

molecular phylogenetic Molecular phylogenetics () is the branch of phylogeny that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differences, predominantly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. From these analyses, it is possible to ...

research.

Description

These are delicately built damselflies, with very wide heads. The males have starkly contrasting colours, typically a black body that is striped in blue, red or yellow. The colour pattern on the male's synthorax (which carries the wings) and tip of his abdomen, in combination with the shape of the four terminal appendages (the cerci and paraprocts, or male claspers for copulation) are useful features when distinguishing species in the genus. The cerci are generally hammer-like with a pointed apex, while the broad paraprocts taper abruptly towards a rounded tip. While females are broadly similar to males, details of their well-developed prothorax facilitate separation of species.

Habitats

Some are found along fast-flowing streams, while others conversely prefer streams flowing slowly over sandy substrates. Some occur at open streams in secondary forest or the tributaries of lowland rivers.

Species

It contains the following species:

References

Protoneuridae Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Coenagrionoidea-stub