''Epitheca'' is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...
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 threaten ...
in 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 ...
Corduliidae
The 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-gr ...
. They are commonly known as baskettails. Baskettails' distinction is the specially adapted, upturned abdomen tip of the females which allows them to carry their egg masses in a small, orange-tinted globule.
Some authorities spin off the North American baskettails into two new genera, ''Epicordulia'' and ''Tetragoneuria'', but this has not gained widespread acceptance and most references place them under this genus.
Species
The genus contains the following species:
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Epitheca bimaculata
The Eurasian baskettail (''Epitheca bimaculata'') is a species of dragonfly. It was described by Toussaint de Charpentier in 1825 and initially placed in the genus ''Libellula''. It is the type species of the genus ''Epitheca''.
Distribution
It ...
'' – Eurasian baskettail
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Epitheca canis'' – beaverpond baskettail
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Epitheca costalis
''Epitheca costalis'', known generally as the slender baskettail or stripe-winged baskettail, is a species of emerald dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. It is found in North America.
The IUCN conservation status of ''Epitheca costalis'' is " ...
'' – slender baskettail or stripe-winged baskettail
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Epitheca cynosura'' – common baskettail
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Epitheca marginata''
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Epitheca petechialis
The dot-winged baskettail (''Epitheca petechialis'') is a dragonfly
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, w ...
'' – dot-winged baskettail
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Epitheca princeps'' – prince baskettail
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Epitheca semiaquea'' – mantled baskettail
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Epitheca sepia'' – sepia baskettail
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Epitheca spinigera'' – spiny baskettail
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Epitheca spinosa
''Epitheca spinosa'', the robust baskettail, is a species of emerald dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. It is found in North America.
The IUCN conservation status of ''Epitheca spinosa'' is "LC", least concern
A least-concern species is a ...
'' – robust baskettail
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Epitheca stella'' – Florida baskettail
Notes
References
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Genus ''Epitheca'' - Baskettails BugGuide
Image of female baskettail sp. with egg mass on tip of tail
Corduliidae
Anisoptera genera
Taxa named by Hermann Burmeister
{{Corduliidae-stub