Puneet Varma (Editor)

Synlestidae

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Kingdom
  
Animalia

Phylum
  
Arthropoda

Order
  
Odonate

Suborder
  
Zygoptera

Rank
  
Family

Class
  
Insecta

Synlestidae httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

Family
  
Synlestidae; Tillyard, 1917

Similar
  
Odonate, Isostictidae, Diphlebiidae, Protoneuridae, Chlorocyphidae

The Synlestidae are a family of damselflies commonly known as sylphs or malachites. They occur in South Africa, Australia, and South America.

Contents

Description

These damselflies are 21 to 36 millimeters long, with slender abdomens. Species are generally metallic green to brown-tinged black in color.

Biology

Damselflies of this family are predators. The nymphs live in rivers and streams, and can be found in stagnant pools during the dry season.

Systematics

There are eight extant genera. There are also several extinct genera known from fossils.

Genera include:

  • Chlorolestes Selys, 1862
  • Ecchlorolestes Barnard, 1937
  • Episynlestes Kennedy, 1920
  • Megalestes Selys, 1862
  • Phylolestes Christiansen, 1947
  • Sinolestes Needham, 1930
  • Synlestes Selys, 1868
  • References

    Synlestidae Wikipedia