Gomphidae

Gomphidae
Austrogomphus guerini
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Odonata
(unranked):	Epiprocta
Suborder:	Anisoptera
Family:	Gomphidae
Genera
see text

The Gomphidae are a family in the Odonata commonly referred to as clubtail dragonflies; it contains about 90 genera and 900 species. The name refers to the club-like widening of the end of the abdomen (abdominal segments 7 through 9). However, this club is usually less pronounced in females and is entirely absent in some species.

Paragomphus lineatus, male

Paragomphus lineatus, female

Clubtails have widely separated eyes, a trait they share with the Petaluridae and with damselflies. Adults are usually from 40 to 70 mm in length.

Most gomphids breed in streams or rivers.

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  Gomphidae wing structure: Note the similar-sized triangles of the front and hind wings and the widely separate eyes.

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  Pair of yellow-striped hunters mating

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  Gomphus vulgatissimus, showing the "clubbed" abdomen characteristic of the family

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  Common clubtail, Ictinogomphus rapax

Etymology

The name may be derived from Latin gomphus or gond meaning hinge.

Genera

Acrogomphus Agriogomphus Amphigomphus Anisogomphus Anomalophlebia Anormogomphus Antipodogomphus Aphylla Archaeogomphus Armagomphus Arigomphus Asiagomphus Austrogomphus Brasiliogomphus Burmagomphus Cacoides Ceratogomphus Cinitogomphus Cornigomphus Cyanogomphus Cyclogomphus Davidioides Davidius Desmogomphus Diaphlebia Diastatomma Dromogomphus Dubitogomphus Ebegomphus Eogomphus

Erpetogomphus Fukienogomphus Gastrogomphus Gomphidia Gomphidictinus Gomphoides Gomphus Hagenius Heliogomphus Hemigomphus Ictinogomphus Idiogomphoides Isomma Labrogomphus Lamelligomphus Lanthus Leptogomphus Lestinogomphus Lindenia Macrogomphus Malgassogomphus Megalogomphus Melanocacus Melligomphus Merogomphus Microgomphus Mitragomphus Neogomphus Nepogomphoides Nepogomphus

Neurogomphus Nihonogomphus Notogomphus Nychogomphus Octogomphus Odontogomphus Onychogomphus Ophiogomphus Orientogomphus Paragomphus Perigomphus Perissogomphus Peruviogomphus Phaenandrogomphus Phyllocycla Phyllogomphoides Phyllogomphus Platygomphus Praeviogomphus Progomphus Scalmogomphus Shaogomphus Sieboldius Sinictinogomphus Sinogomphus Stylogomphus Stylurus Tibiagomphus Tragogomphus Trigomphus Zonophora

External links

• Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
• More information about clubtail dragonflies
• Gomphidae, CLUBTAILS, Discover Life