Gomphidae
| Gomphidae Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
_male_Macedonia.jpg) | |
| Bladetail, male, Lindenia tetraphylla North Macedonia | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Infraorder: | Anisoptera |
| Superfamily: | Gomphoidea |
| Family: | Gomphidae Rambur, 1842[1] |
| Genera | |
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See text | |
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| Synonyms[2] | |
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Gomphidae is a family of dragonflies commonly known as clubtails or club-tailed dragonflies.[3] The family is placed in the superfamily Gomphoidea, together with Petaluridae.[4][5]
The family comprises about 100 genera and about 1,000 species distributed across North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa.[5][6][7]
The common name clubtail refers to the club-like widening near the end of the abdomen, a feature that is more pronounced in males and absent in some species.[6]
Description and biology
[edit]Gomphids are medium-sized to large dragonflies characterised by their widely separated eyes, robust bodies and, in many species, the swollen tip of the abdomen that gives the family its common name. The club is most developed in males and is absent or only weakly developed in some species. Adults are typically yellow, green or black, often with contrasting dark markings, and many species perch horizontally on rocks, logs or streamside vegetation.[6][8]
Most gomphids inhabit streams and rivers, although some species occur around ponds and lakes. Adults usually remain close to their breeding sites, making short, rapid flights between perches, while newly emerged adults often disperse to nearby woodland before returning to water to breed. In temperate regions emergence is typically concentrated in spring or early summer, whereas tropical species often emerge soon after the onset of the rainy season.[6][9][10]
The larvae are aquatic predators that live in sand, gravel or mud on the beds of streams, rivers and other freshwater habitats. Most species burrow into the substrate with only the eyes and upper body exposed while waiting to ambush prey. Depending on the species, larval development usually takes one to three years, although in some large species it may extend to five years or more.[6][10]
Because their larvae require clean, well-oxygenated freshwater and are sensitive to habitat disturbance, many gomphids are regarded as indicators of river health. Loss of riparian vegetation, sedimentation and water pollution have contributed to declines in a number of species.[6]
Taxonomy
[edit]Gomphidae was established by Rambur in 1842.[1]
The family currently comprises about 100 genera and about 1,000 described species, making it one of the largest families of dragonflies.[5]
In the classification of extant Odonata proposed by Carter and colleagues (2026), Gomphidae is one of the two families placed in the superfamily Gomphoidea, together with Petaluridae.[4][5]
Genera
[edit]The following genera are currently placed in Gomphidae:[5]
- Acrogomphus Laidlaw, 1925
- Agriogomphus Selys, 1869
- Amphigomphus Chao, 1954
- Anisogomphus Selys, 1858
- Anormogomphus Selys, 1854
- Antipodogomphus Fraser, 1951
- Aphylla Selys, 1854
- Archaeogomphus Williamson, 1919
- Arigomphus Needham, 1897
- Armagomphus Carle, 1986
- Asahinagomphus Karube, 2021
- Asiagomphus Asahina, 1985
- Austroepigomphus Fraser, 1953
- Austrogomphus Selys, 1854
- Borneogomphus Karube & Sasamoto, 2014
- Brasiliogomphus Belle, 1995
- Burmagomphus Williamson, 1907
- Cacoides Cowley, 1934
- Ceratogomphus Selys, 1854
- Cornigomphus Martin, 1907
- Crenigomphus Selys, 1892
- Cyanogomphus Selys, 1873
- Cyclogomphus Selys, 1854
- Davidioides Fraser, 1924
- Davidius Selys, 1878
- Desmogomphus Williamson, 1920
- Diaphlebia Selys, 1854
- Diastatomma Charpentier in Burmeister, 1839
- Dromogomphus Selys, 1854
- Dubitogomphus Fraser, 1940
- Ebegomphus Needham, 1944
- Eogomphus Needham, 1941
- Epigomphus Hagen in Selys, 1854
- Erpetogomphus Selys, 1858
- Euthygomphus Kosterin, 2016
- Fukienogomphus Chao, 1954
- Gastrogomphus Needham, 1941
- Gomphidia Selys, 1854
- Gomphidictinus Fraser, 1942
- Gomphoides Selys, 1854
- Gomphurus Needham, 1901
- Gomphus Leach, 1815
- Hagenius Selys, 1854
- Heliogomphus Laidlaw, 1922
- Hemigomphus Selys, 1854
- Hylogomphus Needham, Westfall & May, 2000
- Ictinogomphus Cowley, 1934
- Idiogomphoides Belle, 1984
- Isomma Selys, 1892
- Labrogomphus Needham, 1931
- Lamelligomphus Fraser, 1922
- Lanthus Needham, 1897
- Leptogomphus Selys, 1878
- Lestinogomphus Martin, 1911
- Libyogomphus Fraser, 1926
- Lindenia de Haan, 1826
- Macrogomphus Selys, 1858
- Mastigogomphus Cammaerts, 2004
- Mattigomphus Karube & Kosterin, 2018
- Megalogomphus Campion, 1923
- Melanocacus Belle, 1986
- Melligomphus Chao, 1990
- Merogomphus Martin, 1904
- Microgomphus Selys, 1858
- Neogomphus Selys, 1858
- Nepogomphoides Fraser, 1952
- Nepogomphus Fraser, 1934
- Neurogomphus Karsch, 1890
- Nihonogomphus Oguma, 1926
- Notogomphus Selys, 1858
- Nychogomphus Carle, 1986
- Octogomphus Selys, 1873
- Odontogomphus Watson, 1991
- Onychogomphus Selys, 1854
- Ophiogomphus Selys, 1854
- Orientogomphus Chao & Xu, 1987
- Paragomphus Cowley, 1934
- Perigomphus Belle, 1972
- Perissogomphus Laidlaw, 1922
- Peruviogomphus Klots, 1944
- Phaenandrogomphus Lieftinck, 1964
- Phanogomphus Carle, 1986
- Phyllocycla Calvert, 1948
- Phyllogomphoides Belle, 1970
- Phyllogomphus Selys, 1854
- Platygomphus Selys, 1854
- Praeviogomphus Belle, 1995
- Progomphus Selys, 1854
- Scalmogomphus Chao, 1990
- Shaogomphus Chao, 1984
- Sieboldius Selys, 1854
- Sinictinogomphus Fraser, 1939
- Sinogomphus May, 1935
- Stenogomphurus Carle, 1986
- Stylogomphus Fraser, 1922
- Stylurus Needham, 1897
- Tibiagomphus Belle, 1992
- Tragogomphus Sjöstedt, 1899
- Trigomphus Bartenev, 1912
- Zephyrogomphus Watson, 1991
- Zonophora Selys, 1854
Phylogeny
[edit]Molecular phylogenetic studies consistently recover Gomphidae and Petaluridae as sister families comprising the superfamily Gomphoidea.[4][11][12]
Fossil record
[edit]The oldest confirmed fossils assigned to Gomphidae are from the Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian). The family has an extensive fossil record extending from the Cretaceous to the Quaternary, with fossils recorded from Europe, Asia, North and South America, Australia and Africa.[13]
Fossil genera
[edit]Several extinct genera have been assigned to Gomphidae, including:
- †Auroradraco Archibald & Cannings, 2019 Kamloops Group, Canada, Ypresian[14]
- †Burmalindenia Schädel & Bechly, 2016 Burmese amber, Cenomanian
- †Cratohagenius Bechly, 2010 Crato Formation, Brazil, Aptian[15]
- †Cratolindenia Bechly, 2000 Crato Formation, Brazil, Aptian
- †Gunterbechlya Huang et al., 2019 Burmese amber, Cenomanian[16]
- ?†Nannogomphus Handlirsch, 1906 (potentially related to early dragonfly lineages)[17]
Etymology
[edit]The family name Gomphidae is derived from the type genus Gomphus, with the standard zoological suffix -idae used for families.
The genus name Gomphus is derived from the Greek γόμφος (gomphos, "bolt" or "nail"), referring to the shape of the abdomen, likened to a bolt used in shipbuilding.[18][19]
Gallery
[edit]
Gomphidae wing structure: note the similar-sized triangles of the front and hind wings and the widely separated eyes.
Pair of yellow-striped hunters mating
Common clubtail, Ictinogomphus rapax
Gomphus vulgatissimus, showing the characteristic clubbed abdomen
Head of Gomphus vulgatissimus showing widely separated eyes
Paragomphus lineatus, male
Paragomphus lineatus, female
_W_IMG_0224.jpg)
References
[edit]- 1 2 Rambur, Jules (1842). Histoire naturelle des insectes. Névroptères (in French). Paris: Librairie Encyclopédique de Roret. pp. 534 [24] – via Gallica.
- ↑ Dijkstra, Klaas-Douwe B.; Bechly, Günter; Bybee, Seth M.; Dow, Rory A.; Dumont, Henri J.; Fleck, Günther; Garrison, Rosser W.; Hämäläinen, Matti; Kalkman, Vincent J.; Karube, Haruki; May, Michael L.; Orr, Albert G.; Paulson, Dennis R.; Rehn, Andrew C.; Theischinger, Günther; Trueman, John W.H.; Van Tol, Jan; von Ellenrieder, Natalia; Ware, Jessica (2013). "The classification and diversity of dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata). In: Zhang, Z.-Q. (Ed.) Animal Biodiversity: An Outline of Higher-level Classification and Survey of Taxonomic Richness (Addenda 2013)". Zootaxa. 3703 (1): 36–45. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3703.1.9.
- ↑ "Family GOMPHIDAE". Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study. 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
- 1 2 3 Carter, Payton; Goodman, Aaron; Abbott, John; Bota Sierra, Cornelio; Bybee, Seth M.; Dow, Rory A.; Fomekong Lontchi, Judicael; Frandsen, Paul B.; Gonzalez Mozo, Laura; Guralnick, Rob; Hämäläinen, Matti; Joshi, Shantanu; Kohli, Manpreet K.; Lupiyaningdyah, Pungki; Montana, Katherine O.; Newton, Lacie; Onsongo, Violet; Orr, Albert G.; Pinto, Ângelo Parise; Sanchez-Herrera, Melissa; Sutherland, Laura N.; Theischinger, Gunther; Ware, Jessica L.; Zhang, Haomiao; Kalkman, Vincent J. (2026). "The classification and diversity of extant dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata)". International Journal of Odonatology. 29: 95–124. doi:10.48156/1388.2026.1917385.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Paulson, D.; Schorr, M.; Abbott, J.; Bota-Sierra, C.; Deliry, C.; Dijkstra, K.-D.; Lozano, F. "World Odonata List". OdonataCentral. University of Alabama. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Silsby, Jill (2001). Dragonflies of the World. CSIRO Publishing. p. 102. ISBN 0643065121.
- ↑ "New Hampshire PBS web article"
- ↑ Paulson, Dennis (2009). Dragonflies and Damselflies of the West. Princeton University Press. p. 237. ISBN 978-1-4008-3294-1.
- ↑ Abbott, J.C. (2009). "Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselflies)". Encyclopedia of Inland Waters. pp. 394–404. doi:10.1016/B978-012370626-3.00183-6. ISBN 978-0-12-370626-3.
- 1 2 John L. Capinera (2008). Encyclopedia of Entomology. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 1245. ISBN 978-1-4020-6242-1.
- ↑ Kohli, M., Letsch, H., Greve, C., Béthoux, O., Deregnaucourt, I., Liu, S., Zhou, X., Donath, A., Mayer, C., Podsiadlowski, L., Gunkel, S., Machida, R., Niehuis, O., Rust, J., Wappler, T., Yu, X., Misof, B., & Ware, J. (2021). Evolutionary history and divergence times of Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) revealed through transcriptomics. IScience, 24(11), 103324. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2021.103324
- ↑ Tolman, Ethan R.; Beatty, Christopher D.; Kohli, Manpreet K.; Abbott, John; Bybee, Seth M.; Frandsen, Paul B.; Stephen Gosnell, J.; Guralnick, Robert; Kalkman, V. J.; Newton, Lacie G.; Suvorov, Anton; Ware, Jessica L. (2024-11-01). "A molecular phylogeny of the Petaluridae (Odonata: Anisoptera): A 160-Million-Year-Old story of drift and extinction". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 200 108185. Bibcode:2024MolPE.20008185T. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2024.108185. ISSN 1055-7903. PMID 39209047.
- ↑ "Paleobiology Database: Gomphidae". Paleobiology Database. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
- ↑ Archibald, S. Bruce; Cannings, Robert A. (2019-10-21). "Fossil dragonflies (Odonata: Anisoptera) from the early Eocene Okanagan Highlands, western North America". The Canadian Entomologist. 151 (6): 783–816. doi:10.4039/tce.2019.61.
- ↑ Bechly, Günter (2010). "Additions to the fossil dragonfly fauna from the Lower Cretaceous Crato Formation of Brazil (Insecta: Odonata)". Palaeodiversity. 3: 11–77.
- ↑ Huang, Diying; Fu, Yanzhe; Nel, André (2019). "A possible true Mesozoic Gomphidae s. str. from the mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber (Odonata: Anisoptera)". Cretaceous Research. 95: 341–345. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2018.11.001.
- ↑ Nel, André; Huang, Diying (2015). "A new family of 'libelluloid' dragonflies from the Middle Jurassic of Daohugou, northeastern China (Odonata: Anisoptera: Cavilabiata)". Alcheringa. 39 (4): 525–529. doi:10.1080/03115518.2015.1050316.
- ↑ "Etymology". National Museums Ireland. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
- ↑ Endersby, Ian; Fliedner, Heinrich (2015). The Naming of Australia's Dragonflies. Eltham, Victoria, Australia: Busybird Publishing. ISBN 9781925260625.
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