Petaluridae

The petaltails, also called graybacks, of the family Petaluridae are among the most ancient of the extant true dragonflies (infraorder Anisoptera), having fossil members from as early as the Jurassic, over 150 million years ago. A 2024 molecular phylogeny found that the petaltails comprise two clades, a Gondwanan clade and a Laurasian clade. Their divergence time was estimated at 160 million years ago.

Petalura is a genus of very large dragonflies in the family Petaluridae. Species of Petalura are brown or black with yellow markings and usually clear wings. The anal appendages of the males are broad and leaf-like giving them their common name of petaltails. They are endemic to south-western and eastern Australia.

species of insect

species of insect

species of insect

species of insect

species of insect

species of insect

species of insect

Tanypteryx is a small genus of dragonflies in the family Petaluridae. The genus contains only two species. One Tanypteryx hageni , the black petaltail, occurs in the Pacific Northwest and the other, Tanypteryx pryeri , is found in Japan.

species of insect

species of insect

Uropetala is a small genus of very large dragonflies in the family Petaluridae. They are endemic to New Zealand. Unlike most dragonflies, the larvae are not aquatic, but terrestrial, living in flooded burrows in damp forest or banks. left|thumb|Uropetala dragonfly carved on a Māori pare or lintel. The genus contains only two species: Uropetala carovei – bush giant dragonfly Uropetala chiltoni – mountain giant dragonfly