| Calopterygoidea | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Austroargiolestes icteromelas, common flatwing (male), Australia | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Suborder: | Zygoptera |
| Superfamily: | Calopterygoidea Selys, 1850[1] |
Calopterygoidea is a traditionally recognised superfamily of damselflies in the order Odonata.[2][3]
Recent phylogenomic studies indicate that the group is not a monophyletic group, and that the families traditionally included within Calopterygoidea represent several distinct evolutionary lineages.[4]
Taxonomic history
Historically, Calopterygoidea was used for a diverse assemblage of mostly densely-veined damselflies that did not belong to the more clearly defined superfamilies Lestoidea, Platystictoidea or Coenagrionoidea.[3]
The composition of the superfamily has changed substantially following molecular phylogenetic and phylogenomic studies during the early 21st century.[3][4][5]
Phylogenomic studies published in 2021 resulted in the recognition of several new families and the reinstatement of others previously included within broader concepts of Amphipterygidae and Megapodagrionidae.[4]
Phylogeny
Phylogenetic studies indicate that the traditional superfamily Calopterygoidea does not form a monophyletic group.[4]
Phylogenomic analyses recovered the families traditionally included within Calopterygoidea as several distinct evolutionary lineages, with relationships between many groups remaining unresolved.[4]
Because of this uncertainty, the traditional superfamily is retained as a provisional grouping pending further revision of higher-level damselfly classification.[4]
Etymology
The superfamily name Calopterygoidea is derived from the type genus Calopteryx and the zoological suffix -oidea, used for superfamilies.
The genus name Calopteryx is derived from the Greek καλός (kalos, "beautiful") and πτέρυξ (pteryx, "wing"), referring to the broad and often brightly coloured wings of these damselflies.[6]
Families
The following families are currently placed in Calopterygoidea[2]
- Amanipodagrionidae Dijkstra & Ware, 2021
- Amphipterygidae Tillyard, 1917
- Argiolestidae Fraser, 1957
- Calopterygidae Selys, 1850
- Chlorocyphidae Cowley, 1937
- Devadattidae Dijkstra, 2014
- Dicteriadidae Selys, 1853
- Euphaeidae Yakobson & Bianchi, 1905
- Heteragrionidae Rácenis, 1959
- Hypolestidae Fraser, 1938
- Lestoideidae Munz, 1919
- Megapodagrionidae Tillyard, 1917
- Mesagrionidae Kalkman & Sanchez Herrera, 2021
- Mesopodagrionidae Kalkman & Abbott, 2021
- Pentaphlebiidae Novelo-Gutiérrez, 1995
- Philogangidae Kennedy, 1920
- Philogeniidae Rácenis, 1959
- Philosinidae Kennedy, 1925
- Polythoridae Munz, 1919
- Priscagrionidae Kalkman & Bybee, 2021
- Protolestidae Dijkstra & Bybee, 2021
- Pseudolestidae Fraser, 1957
- Rhipidolestidae Silsby, 2001
- Rimanellidae Davies & Tobin, 1984
- Tatocnemididae Rácenis, 1959
- Thaumatoneuridae Fraser, 1938
Unplaced genera
Following molecular phylogenetic studies in 2021, all genera traditionally included within Calopterygoidea were assigned to families except the genus Sciotropis Rácenis, 1959.[2][4]
Fossil record
Fossils attributed to Calopterygoidea are known from the early Eocene onward, with records from Europe, Asia and North America.[7] Most fossils have been assigned to living families, particularly Calopterygidae and Chlorocyphidae, although several extinct genera are also recognised.[7]
Fossil genera
The following fossil genera are currently assigned to Calopterygoidea:[7]
- †Guangxicalopteryx Huang et al., 2022
- †Sinocalopteryx Lin et al., 2010
- †Epallagites Cockerell, 1925
- †Protothore Cockerell, 1930
See also
References
- Selys-Longchamps, E. (1850). "Revue des odonates ou libellules d'Europe". Mémoires de la Société Royale des Sciences de Liège (in French). 6: 1–408 [133] – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
- Paulson, D.; Schorr, M.; Abbott, J.; Bota-Sierra, C.; Deliry, C.; Dijkstra, K.-D.; Lozano, F. "World Odonata List". OdonataCentral. University of Alabama. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
- 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. hdl:10072/61365. ISSN 1175-5334.
- Bybee, S. M.; Kalkman, V. J.; Erickson, R. J.; Frandsen, P. B.; Breinholt, J. W.; Suvorov, A.; Ware, J. L. (2021). "Phylogeny and classification of Odonata using targeted genomics". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 160: 1–15. Bibcode:2021MolPE.16007115B. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2021.107115. hdl:11093/2768. PMID 33609713.
- Bybee, S.M.; Ogden, T.H.; Branham, M.A.; Whiting, M.F. (2008). "Molecules, morphology and fossils: a comprehensive approach to odonate phylogeny and the evolution of the odonate wing". Cladistics. 24 (4): 477–514. doi:10.1111/j.1096-0031.2007.00191.x. PMID 34879634.
- Leach, W.E. (1815). "Entomology". In Brewster, D. (ed.). The Edinburgh Encyclopedia. Vol. 9 (reprint 1830 ed.). Edinburgh: William Blackburn. pp. 57-172 [137].
- "Paleobiology Database: Calopterygoidea". Paleobiology Database. Retrieved 1 June 2026.