Mesagrion leucorrhinum
| Mesagrion leucorrhinum | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Suborder: | Zygoptera |
| Superfamily: | Polythoroidea |
| Family: | Mesagrionidae Kalkman & Sanchez Herrera, 2021[2] |
| Genus: | Mesagrion Selys, 1885[3] |
| Species: | M. leucorrhinum |
| Binomial name | |
| Mesagrion leucorrhinum | |
Mesagrion leucorrhinum is a species of damselfly endemic to the Andes of central Colombia. It is the sole species in the genus Mesagrion, which in turn is the only genus in the family Mesagrionidae, which is a family in the superfamily Polythoroidea.[4][5]
Mesagrion leucorrhinum inhabits small waterfalls and forest streams in subtropical and tropical montane forests.[1][2] Adults are medium-sized damselflies with clear wings, a black body marked with yellow, and a largely red abdomen.[2] The species is assessed as being of least concern on the IUCN Red List.[1]
Mesagrionidae remains one of the smallest damselfly families, containing a single genus and species.[5]
Family classification
Mesagrion was described by Selys in 1885 for the species Mesagrion leucorrhinum.[3] For much of its history the genus was placed within Megapodagrionidae, usually among the flatwing damselflies of the subfamily Argiolestinae.[6] Molecular studies later showed that Mesagrion represents a distinct evolutionary lineage within the damselflies. As a result, Kalkman and Sanchez Herrera established the monotypic family Mesagrionidae in 2021.[2]
In 2026, Carter and colleagues placed Mesagrionidae within the newly recognised superfamily Polythoroidea, together with Dicteriadidae, Heteragrionidae, Hypolestidae, Philogeniidae, Polythoridae and Rimanellidae, based on phylogenomic evidence for their evolutionary relationships.[4]
Etymology
The family name Mesagrionidae is derived from the type genus Mesagrion, with the standard zoological suffix -idae used for animal families.
The genus name Mesagrion presumably combines the Greek μέσος (mesos, "middle" or "intermediate") with Agrion, a historical name widely used for damselflies. Although Sélys did not explain the derivation, the name probably refers to an intermediate position among the damselfly groups recognised at the time.[3][7]
The species name leucorrhinum is presumably derived from the Greek λευκός (leukos, "white") and ῥίς (rhis, "nose" or "snout"). It likely refers to the white labrum and clypeus described in the original species description.[3][7]
References
- 1 2 3 Bota-Sierra, C.; Palacino, F.; Rache, L.; Ellenrieder, N.; Paulson, D. (2016). "Mesagrion leucorrhinum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T60294A66887433. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T60294A66887433.en.
- 1 2 3 4 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.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Sélys-Longchamps, Edmond (1885). "Programme d'une révision des Agrionines". Comptes-rendus des séances de la Société entomologique de Belgique: 141–145 [144].
- 1 2 Carter, Payton; Goodman, Aaron; Abbott, John; Bota Sierra, Cornelio; Bybee, Seth M.; Dow, Rory A.; Fomekong Lontchi, Judicael; Frandsen, Paul B.; Gonzalez Mozo, Laura; Guralnick, Rob; Hämäläinen, Matti; Joshi, Shantanu; Kohli, Manpreet K.; Lupiyaningdyah, Pungki; Montana, Katherine O.; Newton, Lacie; Onsongo, Violet; Orr, Albert G.; Pinto, Ângelo Parise; Sanchez-Herrera, Melissa; Sutherland, Laura N.; Theischinger, Gunther; Ware, Jessica L.; Zhang, Haomiao; Kalkman, Vincent J. (2026). "The classification and diversity of extant dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata)". International Journal of Odonatology. 29: 95–124. doi:10.48156/1388.2026.1917385.
- 1 2 Paulson, D.; Schorr, M.; Abbott, J.; Bota-Sierra, C.; Deliry, C.; Dijkstra, K.-D.; Lozano, F. "World Odonata List". OdonataCentral. University of Alabama. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
- ↑ Bridges, Charles A. (1994). Catalogue of the family-group, genus-group and species-group names of the Odonata of the world (3rd ed.). Urbana, Illinois: Charles A. Bridges. p. II.1. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.15291.
- 1 2 Brown, Roland Wilbur (1954). Composition of Scientific Words: A Manual of Methods and a Lexicon of Materials for the Practice of Logotechnics. [Washington].