Synlestidae
Family of damselflies
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Synlestidae are a family of damselflies[2][3] commonly known as sylphs or malachites.[4] They occur in Sub-Saharan Africa, Australia, Asia and the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean.[5]
| Synlestidae | |
|---|---|
| |
| Chlorolestes tessellatus | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Suborder: | Zygoptera |
| Superfamily: | Lestoidea |
| Family: | Synlestidae Tillyard, 1917[1] |
Description
Biology
Damselflies of this family are predators. The nymphs live in rivers and streams, and can be found in stagnant pools during the dry season.[4]
Systematics
There are nine extant genera. There are also several extinct genera known from fossils.[5]
Genera include:
- Chlorolestes Selys, 1862
- Chorismagrion Morton, 1914
- Ecchlorolestes Barnard, 1937
- Episynlestes Kennedy, 1920
- Megalestes Selys, 1862
- Nubiolestes Fraser, 1945
- Phylolestes Christiansen, 1947
- Sinolestes Needham, 1930
- Synlestes Selys, 1868
Etymology
The family name Synlestidae is derived from the type genus Synlestes, with the standard zoological suffix -idae used for animal families. The genus name Synlestes is derived from the Greek σύν (syn, "together"), combined with Lestes, a genus name derived from the Greek λῃστής (lēstēs, "robber"), indicating resemblance to that genus.[7]
