Synthemistidae
| Synthemistidae Temporal range: Paleocene[1]–Recent | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Choristhemis flavoterminata | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Infraorder: | Anisoptera |
| Superfamily: | Libelluloidea |
| Family: | Synthemistidae Tillyard, 1911[2] |
 | |
| Distribution of Synthemistidae | |
Synthemistidae is a family of dragonflies commonly known as tigertails, or sometimes, southern emeralds.[3] This family is part of the superfamily Libelluloidea.[4][5]
Synthemistidae is an ancient dragonfly family, dating back to the Palaeocene.[1] Species of Synthemistidae occur in Australia and New Guinea.[6] Most species are small in size and have narrow abdomens. Nymphs are bottom dwellers, and resist droughts by burying themselves very deeply. Synthemistid dragonflies frequently prefer marshy areas, as well as fast-flowing streams. The family Synthemistidae is sometimes called Synthemidae.[7]
Some taxonomic history
In 2025 a significant revision of Libelluloidea using morphological and molecular techniques added three families and restored six families. This reduced the number of genera included in Synthemistidae.[5][8]
Genera
The following genera are currently placed in Synthemistidae:[3][5]
- Archaeosynthemis Carle, 1995
- Austrosynthemis Carle, 1995
- Calesynthemis Carle, 1995
- Choristhemis Tillyard, 1910
- Eusynthemis Förster, 1903
- Neocaledosynthemis Fleck, 2024
- Palaeosynthemis Forster, 1903
- Parasynthemis Carle, 1995
- Synthemiopsis Tillyard, 1917
- Synthemis Selys, 1870
- Tonyosynthemis Theischinger, 1998
Fossils
The following fossil genus is currently assigned to Synthemistidae:[1][9]
- †Gallosynthemis Nel, Ngo-Muller, Garrouste & Boderau, 2025
Etymology
The family name Synthemistidae is derived from the type genus Synthemis, with the standard zoological suffix -idae used for animal families.
The genus name Synthemis is derived from the Greek σύν (syn, "together") and -themis, from Greek Θέμις (Themis), the goddess of divine law, order and justice. In early odonate taxonomy, names ending in -themis were introduced by Hagen and were widely used for dragonflies.[10]
See also
References
- 1 2 3 Nel, Andre; Ngo Muller, Valerie; Garrouste, Romain; Boderau, Mathieu (2025). "The first fossil representative of the dragonfly family Synthemistidae". Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 70 (2): 253–258. doi:10.4202/app.01236.2025.
- ↑ Tillyard, R.J. (1911). "Monograph of the genus Synthemis. (Neuroptera: Odonata)". Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. 35: 312–377 [329]. doi:10.5962/bhl.part.25547 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
- 1 2 "Family SYNTHEMISTIDAE". Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study. 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
- ↑ Dijkstra, Klaas-Douwe B.; Bechly, Günter; Bybee, Seth M.; Dow, Rory A.; Dumont, Henri J.; Fleck, Günther; Garrison, Rosser W.; Hämäläinen, Matti; Kalkman, Vincent J.; Karube, Haruki; May, Michael L.; Orr, Albert G.; Paulson, Dennis R.; Rehn, Andrew C.; Theischinger, Günther; Trueman, John W.H.; Van Tol, Jan; von Ellenrieder, Natalia; Ware, Jessica (2013). "The classification and diversity of dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata). In: Zhang, Z.-Q. (Ed.) Animal Biodiversity: An Outline of Higher-level Classification and Survey of Taxonomic Richness (Addenda 2013)". Zootaxa. 3703 (1): 36–45. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3703.1.9. hdl:10072/61365. ISSN 1175-5334.
- 1 2 3 Paulson, D.; Schorr, M.; Abbott, J.; Bota-Sierra, C.; Deliry, C.; Dijkstra, K.-D.; Lozano, F. "World Odonata List". OdonataCentral. University of Alabama.
- ↑ "Synthemistidae - Tigertail Dragonflies". Brisbane Insects and Spiders. May 2013.
- ↑ "Synthemidae". encyclopedia.com. Oxford University Press. 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
- ↑ Goodman, Aaron; Abbott, John C.; Bybee, Seth M.; Ehlert, Juliana; Frandsen, Paul B.; Guralnick, Rob; Kalkman, Vincent J.; Newton, Lacie; Pinto, Ângelo Parise; Ware, Jessica L. (2025-10-09). "Systematic and taxonomic revision of emerald and tigertail dragonflies (Anisoptera: Synthemistidae and Corduliidae)". Systematic Entomology. doi:10.1111/syen.70000.
- ↑ "Paleobiology Database: Synthemistidae". Paleobiology Database. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ↑ Endersby, Ian; Fliedner, Heinrich (2015). The Naming of Australia's Dragonflies. Eltham, Victoria, Australia: Busybird Publishing. ISBN 9781925260625.