The Synlestidae are a family of damselflies commonly known as sylphs or malachites.Synlestidae.
Identification & Ecology of Australian Freshwater Invertebrates. Murray-Darling Basin Authority. They occur in

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

, and

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the southe ...

.Vasilenko, D. V. (2005)
New damselflies (Odonata: Synlestidae, Hemiphlebiidae) from the Mesozoic Transbaikalian locality of Chernovskie Kopi.
''Paleontologicheskii Zhurnal'' 39(3), 280-83.

Description

These damselflies are 21 to 36 millimeters long, with slender abdomens. Species are generally metallic green to brown-tinged black in color.Synlestidae.
Australian Insect Families. CSIRO, 2016.

Biology

Damselflies of this family are predators. The nymphs live in rivers and streams, and can be found in stagnant pools during the dry season.

Systematics

There are nine extant genera. There are also several extinct genera known from fossils. Genera include: *''

Chlorolestes ''Chlorolestes'' is a genus of damselflies in the family Synlestidae. They are commonly known as Malachites. The genus is endemic to southern Africa; furthermore, the range of only one species, '' Chlorolestes elegans'', extends further north ...

'' *''

Ecchlorolestes ''Ecchlorolestes'' is a genus of large damselflies in the family Synlestidae The Synlestidae are a family of damselflies commonly known as sylphs or malachites.

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Episynlestes ''Episynlestes'' is a genus of damselflies in the family Synlestidae. Species of ''Episynlestes'' are large damselflies, dull bronze black in colour with pale markings and a white tip to their tails. They often perch with their wings outspread. ...

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Megalestes ''Megalestes'' is a genus of malachite in the damselfly family Synlestidae The Synlestidae are a family of damselflies commonly known as sylphs or malachites.

'' *'' Nubiolestes'' *'' Phylolestes'' *''

Sinolestes ''Sinolestes'' is a genus of damselfly in the family Synlestidae. It is monotypic, the sole species being ''Sinolestes editus''. It is found in southeastern China (Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, and Guangxi provinces), Taiwan, and probably norther ...

'' *'' Synlestes''

References

{{Taxonbar , from=Q1888552 Odonata families Odonata of Asia Odonata of Africa Odonata of Australia Odonata of South America Taxa named by Robert John Tillyard Damselflies