Biology:Libelluloidea

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Libelluloidea is the most species-rich superfamily of dragonflies, comprising 13 families.[1][2]

The superfamily includes the skimmers, cruisers, emeralds and their relatives, and represents one of the most diverse evolutionary radiations within modern dragonflies.[1]

Recent phylogenetic studies using morphological and molecular data have substantially revised the classification of the group, including the recognition and restoration of several families.[1]

Taxonomic history

The superfamily Libelluloidea was established by Leach in 1815.[3]

Historically, the classification of libelluloid dragonflies has been unstable, particularly regarding the limits of Corduliidae, Synthemistidae and related families.[4][5]

In 2025, a major phylogenetic revision using morphological and molecular data recognised three new families and restored six previously synonymised families within Libelluloidea.[1]

Since 2013, the following family names have generally been treated as invalid, synonymised or disputed:[4][5][6][7]

Alternative phylogenetic names proposed for libelluloid dragonflies by Bechly included Anauriculida and Italoansida in 1996, and Eurypalpidomorpha in 2003.[7][8]

Phylogeny

Phylogenetic studies support Libelluloidea as a natural evolutionary group of dragonflies closely related to Cordulegastroidea.[9][4][1]

Libelluloidea is generally recovered as the sister group to Cordulegastroidea.[10][1]

 
 

Cordulegastroidea

 
 

Libelluloidea

 
 

Etymology

The superfamily name Libelluloidea is derived from the type genus Libellula and the zoological suffix -oidea, used for superfamilies.

The genus name Libellula is the diminutive form of the Latin libella ("small balance" or "level"), possibly referring to the horizontal position of the wings.[11]

Families

Libelluloidea includes the following families:[1][2]

Fossil record

The superfamily includes numerous extinct fossil taxa known from the Cretaceous and later deposits, including:[7][12]

  • †Austrolibellula Petrulevičius & Nel, 2003[12]
  • †Araripelibellulidae Bechly, 1996
  • †Araripephlebiidae Bechly, 1998
  • †Bolcacorduliidae Gentilini, 2002
  • †Eocorduliidae Bechly, 1996
  • †Palaeomacromiidae Petrulevičius, Nel & Muzón, 1999 (=Bolcathemidae Gentilini, 2002)
  • †Valdicorduliidae Bechly, 1996
  • †Urolibellulidae Zeiri, Nel & Garrouste, 2015

The oldest known member of Libelluloidea is Araripelibellula brittanica from the Berriasian of England.[13]

Libelluloidea and Cordulegastroidea together form a major evolutionary lineage of dragonflies.[10]

See also

  • List of dragonflies of the world

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Goodman, Aaron; Abbott, John C.; Bybee, Seth M.; Ehlert, Juliana; Frandsen, Paul B.; Guralnick, Rob; Kalkman, Vincent J.; Newton, Lacie et al. (2025-10-09). "Systematic and taxonomic revision of emerald and tigertail dragonflies (Anisoptera: Synthemistidae and Corduliidae)". Systematic Entomology. doi:10.1111/syen.70000. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "World Odonata List". University of Puget Sound. https://www.pugetsound.edu/academics/academic-resources/slater-museum/biodiversity-resources/dragonflies/world-odonata-list2/. 
  3. ↑ Leach, W. E. (1815). "Entomology". in Brewster, D.. The Edinburgh Encyclopedia. 9 (reprint 1830 ed.). Edinburgh: William Blackburn. pp. 57–172 [136]. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.30911. https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/17493626. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Dijkstra, Klaas-Douwe B.; Bechly, Günter; Bybee, Seth M.; Dow, Rory A.; Dumont, Henri J.; Fleck, Günther; Garrison, Rosser W.; Hämäläinen, Matti et al. (2013). "The classification and diversity of dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata). In: Zhang, Z.-Q. (Ed.) Animal Biodiversity: An Outline of Higher-level Classification and Survey of Taxonomic Richness (Addenda 2013)". Zootaxa 3703 (1): 36–45. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3703.1.9. ISSN 1175-5334. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Ware, J., May, M., & Kjer, K. (2007). Phylogeny of the higher Libelluloidea (Anisoptera: Odonata): an exploration of the most speciose superfamily of dragonflies. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 45(1), 289–310.
  6. ↑ Carle, F. L., Kjer, K. M., & May, M. L. (2008). Evolution of Odonata, with special reference to Coenagrionoidea (Zygoptera). Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny, 66(1), 37–44.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Sroka, Steven D.; Howells, Thomas F.; Nel, André (2023). "A new transitional "libelluloid" family of odonates with Mesozoic affinities in the Eocene Green River Formation of Utah, USA". Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 68 (2): 337–342. doi:10.4202/app.01072.2023. 
  8. ↑ Petrulevicius, Julián F.; Nel, André (2002). "A new libelluloid dragonfly from late Paleocene deposits in Argentina (Odonata: Italoansida)". European Journal of Entomology 99: 485–489. ISSN 1210-5759. 
  9. ↑ Bybee, S.M.; Ogden, T.H.; Branham, M.A.; Whiting, M.F. (2008). "Molecules, morphology and fossils: a comprehensive approach to odonate phylogeny and the evolution of the odonate wing". Cladistics 24 (4): 477–514. doi:10.1111/j.1096-0031.2007.00191.x. PMID 34879634. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Lin, Qi-Bin; Huang, Di-Ying; Nel, A. (2007). "A new family of Cavilabiata from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation, China (Odonata: Anisoptera)". Zootaxa 1469 (1): 59–64. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.1469.1.4. ISSN 1175-5334. 
  11. ↑ Endersby, Ian; Fliedner, Heinrich (2015). The Naming of Australia's Dragonflies. Eltham, Victoria, Australia: Busybird Publishing. ISBN 9781925260625. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283318421_The_Naming_of_Australia's_Dragonflies. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Petrulevičius, Julián F.; Nel, André (2003). "A new libelluloid dragonfly (Insecta: Odonata: Italoansida) from the late Paleocene of Argentina". Geobios 36 (4): 401–406. doi:10.1016/S0016-6995(03)00039-1. ISSN 0016-6995. 
  13. ↑ "PBDB Taxon". https://paleobiodb.org/classic/basicTaxonInfo?taxon_no=204343. 

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