The Synthemistidae are the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
of
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 known as tigertails, or sometimes called southern emeralds. This family is sometimes treated as a subfamily of Corduliidae.
This is an ancient dragonfly family, with some species occurring in
Australia and
New Guinea
New Guinea (; Hiri Motu: ''Niu Gini''; id, Papua, or , historically ) is the world's second-largest island with an area of . Located in Oceania in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, the island is separated from Australia by the wide Torr ...
.
Most species are small in size and have narrow abdomens. Their nymphs are bottom dwellers, and resist droughts by burying themselves very deeply. Synthemistid dragonflies frequently prefer marshy areas, as well as fast-flowing streams. The family Synthemistidae is sometimes called Synthemidae.
Genera
The family Synthemistidae includes the following genera:
* ''
Apocordulia''
* ''
Archaeophya
''Archaeophya'' is a small genus of dragonflies belonging to the family Gomphomacromiidae.
Species of ''Archaeophya'' are large dragonflies with metallic bodies, dark with yellow spots and clear wings. They only occur in eastern Australia.
Spec ...
''
* ''
Archaeosynthemis
''Archaeosynthemis'' is a genus of dragonflies in the family Synthemistidae.
Species of ''Archaeosynthemis'' are found across southern Australia.
They are medium-sized dragonflies with black and yellow markings.
Species
The genus ''Archaeosynth ...
''
* ''
Austrocordulia''
* ''
Austrophya''
* ''
Austrosynthemis
''Austrosynthemis'' is a monotypic genus of dragonfly in the family Synthemistidae
The Synthemistidae are the family of dragonflies commonly known as tigertails, or sometimes called southern emeralds. This family is sometimes treated as a ...
''
* ''
Choristhemis
''Choristhemis'' is a genus of small dragonflies in the family Synthemistidae
found in eastern Australia.
They are small to medium-sized slender dragonflies with dark colouring and light markings and a relatively weak flight.
Species
The genus ...
''
* ''
Cordulephya
''Cordulephya'' is a genus of dragonflies in the family Cordulephyidae, endemic to eastern Australia.
The species are small to tiny in size, coloured black, or purplish-black, with yellowish markings. Unusually for Anisoptera, these dragonflies ...
''
* ''
Eusynthemis
''Eusynthemis'' is a genus of dragonflies in the family Synthemistidae.
They are commonly known as tigertails. Species of this genus are found mostly in Australia with one species, ''Eusynthemis frontalis'', found in the Solomon Islands.
Specie ...
''
* ''
Gomphomacromia''
* ''
Hesperocordulia''
* ''
Idionyx
''Idionyx'' is a genus of dragonflies in the family Synthemistidae, which is earlier treated as a subfamily of Corduliidae. According to World Odonata List, this genera is best considered ''incertae sedis
' () or ''problematica'' is a ter ...
''
* ''
Idomacromia''
* ''
Lathrocordulia''
* ''
Lauromacromia''
* ''
Macromidia
''Macromidia'' is a genus of dragonfly in family Synthemistidae, which is earlier treated as a subfamily of Corduliidae. According to World Odonata List, this genera is best considered ''incertae sedis
' () or ''problematica'' is a term us ...
''
* ''
Micromidia''
* ''
Neocordulia''
* ''
Neophya''
* ''
Nesocordulia''
* ''
Oxygastra''
* ''
Pseudocordulia
''Pseudocordulia'' is a small genus of dragonflies that are endemic to tropical northeastern Australia. They are medium-sized, bronze-black dragonflies with clear wings. Its taxonomic placement has varied, with some authors placing it in the mono ...
''
* ''
Syncordulia
''Syncordulia'' is a genus of dragonflies.
The genus includes these species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined ...
''
* ''
Parasynthemis
''Parasynthemis'' is a genus of dragonflies in the family Synthemistidae,
There is only one species of this genus which is endemic to south-eastern Australia.
Species
The genus ''Parasynthemis'' includes one species:
* '' Parasynthemis regina'' ...
''
* ''
Synthemiopsis
''Synthemiopsis gomphomacromioides'', also known as the Tasmanian spotwing, is a species of dragonfly from southern and north-western Tasmania, Australia. It is the only species in the genus ''Synthemiopsis'' and has also been placed in its own ...
''
* ''
Synthemis''
* ''
Tonyosynthemis''
See also
*
List of dragonflies (Synthemistidae)
*
List of Odonata species of Australia
This is a list of species of damselflies and dragonflies recorded in Australia.
Common names of species are linked, beside their scientific names.
The list is split into two groups: damselflies (suborder Zygoptera) and other dragonflies (infr ...
References
Synthemidae - What is a(n) Synthemidae - Encyclopedia.com
External links
*
{{Taxonbar, from=Q2033151
Odonata families
Odonata of Australia
Odonata of Oceania
Taxa named by Robert John Tillyard