Odonata of Africa

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Coenagrionidae is a family of damselflies, also known as pond damselflies, in the order Odonata and the suborder Zygoptera. The Zygoptera are the damselflies, which although less known than the dragonflies, are no less common. More than 1,300 species are in this family, making it the largest damselfly family. The family Coenagrionidae has six subfamilies: Agriocnemidinae, Argiinae, Coenagrioninae, Ischnurinae, Leptobasinae, and Pseudagrioninae.

Calopterygidae is a family of damselflies, in the suborder Zygoptera. They are commonly known as the broad-winged damselflies, demoiselles, or jewelwings. These rather large damselflies have wingspans of 50–80 mm (compared to about 44 mm in the common bluetail damselfly, Ischnura elegans), are often metallic-coloured, and can be differentiated from other damselflies by the broader connection between the wings and the body, as opposed to the abrupt narrowing seen in other damselfly families. The family contains some 150 species.

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Aeshnidae, also called aeshnids, hawkers, or darners, is a family of dragonflies, found nearly worldwide, with more than 50 genera and over 450 species.

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The Lestidae are a rather small family of cosmopolitan, large-sized, slender damselflies, known commonly as the spreadwings or spread-winged damselflies.

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thumb|Malagasy featherleg (Proplatycnemis hova) thumb|Proplatycnemis alatipes female The Platycnemididae are a family of damselflies. They are known commonly as white-legged damselflies. There are over 400 species native to the Old World. The family is divided into several subfamilies.

Orthetrum is a large genus of dragonflies in the Libellulidae family. They are commonly referred to as skimmers.

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Crocothemis is a genus of dragonflies in the Libellulidae family, subfamily Sympetrinae (darters). Various species of this genus occur in southern Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and the Southwest Pacific. They are generally small to medium-sized dragonflies.

Ischnura is a genus of damselflies known as forktails or bluetails in the family Coenagrionidae. The genus is distributed worldwide, including various oceanic islands. The males have a forked projection and blue segments at the tip of the abdomen which give the group their common names.

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Pantala is a genus of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae commonly called the rainpool gliders. They are found almost worldwide. Species of Pantala are medium-sized to large, dull orange-yellow dragonflies.

Lestes is a genus of damselfly in the family Lestidae. The family hold their wings at about 45 degrees to the body when resting. This distinguishes them from most other species of damselflies which hold the wings along, and parallel to, the body when at rest.

thumb|left|Ceriagrion cerinorubellum mating

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thumb|Urothemis signata, female

Tramea is a genus of dragonflies in the family Libellulidae, the skimmers and perchers. Species of Tramea are found in tropical and subtropical regions around the globe. They typically have colored bases to their otherwise translucent hindwings. In particular when they fly, this creates the impression of their carrying bags at the start of their abdomens. They are known commonly as saddlebags or saddlebags gliders.

Pseudagrion is the largest genus of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae, with over 140 species. Its range includes most of Africa, much of Asia, and Australia. Africa holds most of the diversity with almost 100 species. It has occupied most of the freshwater habitats in its range, and dominates damselfly communities in habitats as different as desert pools, equatorial rainforests and montane streams.

thumb|Agriocnemis pygmaea, female at [[West Bengal, India]] thumb|Agriocnemis exsudansmature male, Cook Islands thumb|Agriocnemis exsudansimmature male, Cook Islands

thumb|Common flangetailI. decoratus melaenops maleThailand

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Rhyothemis is a genus of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. They are commonly known as flutterers.

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Diplacodes is a genus of dragonflies in the Libellulidae family. They are commonly known as perchers. Their colours range from the totally black body of the African Diplacodes lefebvrii, the lovely pale blue of India's Diplacodes trivialis, to the intense red of the Asian–Australian Diplacodes haematodes.

The Synlestidae are a family of damselflies commonly known as sylphs or malachites. They occur in Sub-Saharan Africa, Australia, Asia and the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean.

Anaciaeschna is a genus of dragonflies in the family Aeshnidae. Species of Anaciaeschna are found in Africa, Asia and Australia.

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Aethriamanta is a genus of dragonflies in the family Libellulidae. Species of Aethriamanta are found in Madagascar, through Southeast Asia, Indonesia, New Guinea and northern Australia.

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thumb|right|Hemicordulia australiae mating thumb|right|Australian Emerald in midflight

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