Libelluloidea
Superfamily of dragonflies
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Libelluloidea is the most species-rich superfamily of dragonflies, comprising 13 families.[2][3]
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| Libelluloidea Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
| |
| Orthetrum sabina | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Infraorder: | Anisoptera |
| Clade: | Cavilabiata |
| Superfamily: | Libelluloidea Leach, 1815[1] |
| Families | |
The superfamily includes the skimmers, cruisers, emeralds and their relatives, and represents one of the most diverse evolutionary radiations within modern dragonflies.[2]
Recent phylogenetic studies using morphological and molecular data have substantially revised the classification of the group, including the recognition and restoration of several families.[2]
Taxonomic history
The superfamily Libelluloidea was established by Leach in 1815.[1]
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.[2]
Since 2013, the following family names have generally been treated as invalid, synonymised or disputed:[4][5][6][7]
- Cordulephyidae
- Oxygastridae
- Hemicorduliidae
- Urothemistidae
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.[2][4][9]
Libelluloidea is generally recovered as the sister group to Cordulegastroidea.[2][10]
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Families
The following families are currently placed in Libelluloidea:[2][3]
- Aeschnosomatidae Goodman, Abbott, Bybee, Ehlert, Frandsen, Guralnick, Kalkman, Newton, Pinto & Ware, 2025
- Austrocorduliidae Bechly, 1996
- Corduliidae Kirby, 1890
- Gomphomacromiidae Tillyard & Fraser, 1940
- Idionychidae Tillyard & Fraser, 1940
- Idomacromiidae Tillyard & Fraser, 1940
- Lauromacromiidae Goodman, Abbott, Bybee, Ehlert, Frandsen, Guralnick, Kalkman, Newton, Pinto & Ware, 2025
- Libellulidae Leach, 1815
- Macromidiidae Goodman, Abbott, Bybee, Ehlert, Frandsen, Guralnick, Kalkman, Newton, Pinto & Ware, 2025
- Macromiidae Needham, 1903
- Neophyidae Tillyard & Fraser, 1940
- Pseudocorduliidae Lohmann, 1996
- Synthemistidae Tillyard, 1911
Fossil record
The superfamily includes numerous extinct fossil taxa known from the Cretaceous and later deposits, including:[7][11]
- †Austrolibellula Petrulevičius & Nel, 2003[11]
- †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.[12]
Libelluloidea and Cordulegastroidea together form a major evolutionary lineage of dragonflies.[10]
