The Corduliidae, also knowns as the emeralds, emerald dragonflies or green-eyed skimmers, is a family of

dragonflies A dragonfly is a flying insect belonging to the infraorder Anisoptera below the order Odonata. About 3,000 extant species of true dragonfly are known. Most are tropical, with fewer species in temperate regions. Loss of wetland habitat threa ...

. These dragonflies are usually black or dark brown with areas of metallic green or yellow, and most of them have large, emerald-green eyes. The

larva A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle. The ...

e are black, hairy-looking, and usually

semiaquatic In biology, semiaquatic can refer to various types of animals that spend part of their time in water, or plants that naturally grow partially submerged in water. Examples are given below. Semiaquatic animals Semiaquatic animals include: * Verte ...

. This family include species called "baskettails", "emeralds", "sundragons", "shadowdragons", and "boghaunters". They are not uncommon and are found nearly worldwide, but some individual species are quite rare. Hine's emerald dragonfly (''Somatochlora hineana''), for example, is an

endangered species An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and inv ...

in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

Selected genera

Some genera included in this family are: * '' Aeschnosoma'' * ''

Antipodochlora ''Antipodochlora'' is a genus of dragonfly in the family Corduliidae The Corduliidae, also knowns as the emeralds, emerald dragonflies or green-eyed skimmers, is a family of dragonflies. These dragonflies are usually black or dark brown with ...

'' – Dusk dragonfly * ''

Cordulia ''Cordulia'' is a genus of dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. Species The genus includes three species: * ''Cordulia aenea The downy emerald (''Cordulia aenea'') is a species of dragonfly. It is metallic green and bronze in color, and i ...

'' – American emeralds * ''

Corduliochlora The Bulgarian emerald, ''Corduliochlora borisi'', is a species of dragonfly in the family Corduliidae, and the only species in the genus ''Corduliochlora''. It is found in Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey. Its natural habitat is rivers. It is threa ...

'' * '' Cordulisantosia'' * ''

Dorocordulia ''Dorocordulia'', commonly called little emeralds or little barlasses, is a genus of dragonfly in the family Corduliidae The Corduliidae, also knowns as the emeralds, emerald dragonflies or green-eyed skimmers, is a family of dragonflies. The ...

'' – little emeralds * ''

Epitheca ''Epitheca'' is a genus of dragonflies in the family Corduliidae The Corduliidae, also knowns as the emeralds, emerald dragonflies or green-eyed skimmers, is a family of dragonflies. These dragonflies are usually black or dark brown with area ...

'' – baskettails * '' Guadalca'' * ''

Helocordulia ''Helocordulia'' is a genus of dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. They are commonly known as sundragons. These are medium-sized odonates, long, dark brown with orange markings. They are confined to eastern USA and Canada where their habitat ...

'' – sundragons * '' Hemicordulia'' - emeralds * '' Heteronaias'' * ''

Libellulosoma ''Libellulosoma'' is a genus of dragonfly in family Corduliidae The Corduliidae, also knowns as the emeralds, emerald dragonflies or green-eyed skimmers, is a family of dragonflies. These dragonflies are usually black or dark brown with area ...

'' * ''

Metaphya ''Metaphya'' is a genus of dragonfly in the family Corduliidae The Corduliidae, also knowns as the emeralds, emerald dragonflies or green-eyed skimmers, is a family of dragonflies. These dragonflies are usually black or dark brown with areas o ...

'' – emeralds * '' Navicordulia'' * ''

Neurocordulia ''Neurocordulia'' is a genus of dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. They are commonly known as shadowdragons. These are medium-sized dragonflies, long, light brown with orange or yellowish markings. They are confined to the eastern United St ...

'' – shadowdragons * '' Paracordulia'' * ''

Pentathemis ''Pentathemis'' is a genus of dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. '' Pentathemis membranulata'' is the only known species of this genus, which is found in northern Australia. Species The genus contains only one species: *'' Pentathemis membran ...

'' –

metallic tigerhawk ''Pentathemis membranulata'' is a species of dragonfly in the family Corduliidae, known as the metallic tigerhawk. It is endemic to rivers, streams, and lagoons in the Top End of Australia's Northern Territory. ''Pentathemis membranulata'' is ...

* ''

Procordulia ''Procordulia'' is a genus of dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. ''Procordulia'' are found in Southeast Asia, New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand and parts of the Pacific region. Species The genus ''Procordulia'' includes the following species: ...

'' – emeralds * '' Schizocordulia'' * ''

Somatochlora ''Somatochlora'', or the striped emeralds, is a genus of dragonflies in the family Corduliidae with 42 described species found across the Northern Hemisphere. Taxonomy The name ''Somatochlora'' is derived from the Greek ''soma'' (body) and ''khl ...

'' – striped emeralds * '' Williamsonia'' – boghaunters

References

External links

Several Emerald Photos

Hine's Emerald Dragonfly Fan Page
{{Taxonbar, from=Q504497 Libelluloidea Odonata families Odonata of Australia