Libellulidae

Taxobox
name = Skimmers or Perchers

---

image_width = 250px
image_caption = Broad-bodied Chaser
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
subphylum = Hexapoda
classis = Insecta
ordo = Odonata
subordo = Epiprocta
infraordo = Anisoptera
familia = Libellulidae
familia_authority = Rambur, 1842
subdivision_ranks = Genera
subdivision = (see text)

The skimmers or perchers and their relatives form the Libellulidae, the largest dragonfly family in the world. It is sometimes considered to contain the Corduliidae as the subfamily Corduliinae and the Macromiidae as the subfamily Macromiinae. Even if these are excluded (as Silsby does), there still remains a family of over 1000 species. With nearly worldwide distribution, these are almost certainly the most often seen of all dragonflies.

The genus "Libellula" is mostly New World, but also boasts one of the few endangered odonates from Japan - "Libellula angelina". Many of the members of this genus are brightly colored or have banded wings. The related genus "Plathemis" includes the whitetails. The genus "Celithemis" contains several brightly marked species in the southern United States. Members of the genus "Sympetrum" are called darters (or meadowhawks in North America), and are found throughout most of the world, except Australia. Several Southern Hemisphere species in the genera "Trithemis" and "Zenithoptera" are especially beautiful. Other common genera include "Tramea" and "Pantala".

The libellulids have stout-bodied larvae with the lower lip or labium developed into a mask over the lower part of the face.

Genera

* "Anatya"
* "Antidythemis"
* "Argyrothemis"
* "Brachymesia"
* "Brachydiplax"
* "Brechmorhoga"
* "Cannaphila"
* "Celithemis"
* "Crocothemis"
* "Dasythemis"
* "Diastatops"
* "Diplacodes"
* "Dythemis"
* "Edonis"
* "Elasmothemis"
* "Elga"
* "Erythemis"
* "Erythrodiplax"
* "Fylgia"
* "Garrisonia"
* "Gynothemis"
* "Idiataphe"
* "Leucorrhinia"
* "Libellula" (including "Plathemis")
* "Macrodiplax"
* "Macrothemis"
* "Miathryia"
* "Micrathryia"
* "Misagria"
* "Nannophya"
* "Nannothemis"
* "Nephepeltia"
* "Neurothemis"
* "Nothodiplax"
* "Oligoclada"
* "Orthemis"
* "Orthetrum"
* "Pachydiplax"
* "Paltothemis"
* "Pantala"
* "Perithemis"
* "Phyllothemis"
* "Planiplax"
* "Porpax"
* "Pseudoleon"
* "Rhodopygia"
* "Scapanea"
* "Sympetrum"
* "Tauriphila"
* "Tholymis"
* "Tramea"
* "Trithemis"
* "Uracis"
* "Ypirangathemis"
* "Zenithoptera"
* "Zyxomma"

References

* [http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/classification/Libellulidae.html Animal Diversity Web]

Bibliography

* Silsby, Jill. 2001. "Dragonflies of the World". Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C.