Corduliidae
Encyclopedia
The insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...

 family Corduliidae contains the emerald dragonflies or green-eyed skimmers. These dragonflies are usually black or dark brown with areas of metallic green or yellow, and most of them have large, emerald-green eyes. The larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...

e are black, hairy-looking, and usually semi-aquatic.

Members of this family include baskettails, emeralds, river cruisers, sundragons, shadowdragons, boghaunters, and other creatively-named dragonflies. They are not uncommon and are found nearly worldwide, however, some individual species are quite rare. Hine's Emerald dragonfly (Somatochlora hineana), for example, is an endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...

 in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

.

Some genera:
  • Archaeophya
    Archaeophya
    Archaeophya is a small genus of dragonflies belonging to the family Corduliidae. They are large dragonflies with metallic bodies, dark with yellow spots and clear wings. They only occur in eastern Australia.The genus contain only two species:...

  • Cordulia
    Cordulia
    Cordulia is a genus of dragonfly in the family Corduliidae.- Species :The genus includes three species:* Cordulia aenea – Downy Emerald* Cordulia amurensis * Cordulia shurtleffii – American Emerald...

    – American emeralds
  • Dorocordulia
    Dorocordulia
    Dorocordulia, commonly called little emeralds, is a genus of dragonfly in the family Corduliidae found in North America.-Species:*Dorocordulia lepida – Petite Emerald*Dorocordulia libera – Racket-tailed Emerald-External links:...

    – little emeralds
  • Epitheca
    Epitheca
    Epitheca is a genus of dragonflies in the family Corduliidae. They are commonly known as Baskettails.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...

    – baskettails
  • Helocordulia
    Helocordulia
    Helocordulia is a genus of dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. They are commonly known as Sundragons.These are medium-sized Odonates, long, dark brown with orange markings.They are confined to eastern USA and Canada where their habitat is clear streams and lakes with sandy bottoms.The genus...

    – sundragons
  • Idionyx
    Idionyx
    Idionyx is a genus of dragonflies in the family Corduliidae.The genus consists of the following species:...

  • Neurocordulia
    Neurocordulia
    Neurocordulia is a genus of dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. They are commonly known as Shadowdragons.These are medium-sized Odonates, long, light brown with orange or yellowish markings...

    – shadowdragons
  • Somatochlora
    Somatochlora
    Somatochlora is a genus of dragonflies in the family Corduliidae. Members of this genus are medium-sized dragonflies with dark bodies and a metallic green lustre....

    – striped emeralds
  • Williamsonia
    Williamsonia (dragonfly)
    Williamsonia is a genus of small dragonflies in the family Corduliidae. They are commonly known as Boghaunters. Unlike other genera of Emerald dragonflies, they have dark eyes and non-metallic bodies.The genus consists of only two species:...

    – boghaunters

External links

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