Odonata
English: Dragonflies; Damselflies.
Synonyms: Odonatoptera; Euodonatoptera; Campylopterodea; Odonatoidea.
Clades: Palaeoptera; Insecta; Hexapoda; Arthropoda; Animals.
Zoology
Odonata are ancient winged insects.
Taxonomy
Odonata form probably a paraphyletic group. The dragonflies and damselflies are the only living members of this group, which was far more diverse in the late Paleozoic and contained gigantic species, including the griffinflies or giant dragonflies.
Families
••• Zygoptera
•• Order Hemiphlebioidea
Hemiphlebiidae – ancient greenling
•• Order Coenagrionoidea
Coenagrionidae – pond damselflies
Isostictidae – narrow-wings
Platycnemididae – white-legged damselflies
Platystictidae – shadowdamsels
Protoneuridae" $ – threadtails
Pseudostigmatidae – forest giants
•• Order Lestoidea
Lestidae – spreadwings
Lestoideidae - bluestreaks
Megapodagrionidae" $ – flatwings
Perilestidae – shortwings
Synlestidae – sylphs
•• Order Calopterygoidea
Amphipterygidae" $ - relicts
Calopterygidae – demoiselles
Chlorocyphidae – jewels
Dicteriadidae – barelegs
Euphaeidae – odalisques
Polythoridae – bannerwings