List of odonates of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a tropical island situated close to the southern tip of India. The invertebrate fauna is as large as it is common to other regions of the world. There are approximately 2 million known species of arthropods, and this number continues to grow. Thus, it is difficult to determine the exact number of Odonata species within particular regions. The following is a list of the dragonflies and damselflies of Sri Lanka.

Dragonflies & Damselflies

Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata.

Dragonflies are predators. The larvae inhabit water and adults fly near aquatic places. They are diverse in color and shape. There are major 2 types of odonates in the world; they are dragonflies and damselflies. The eyes are closer together in dragonflies, and their wings are held broadly opened from the body. They are robust in nature. In contrast, damselflies are delicately built small odonates, with well separated compound eyes. During rest, they do not expand their wings; the wings are folded over the abdomen or slightly spread.

Damselflies are categorized in to Suborder: Zygoptera; and dragonflies into Suborder: Anisoptera. 121 described species within 13 families can be found in Sri Lanka.

The 59 endemic species and marked with an asterix (*).

Suborder: Zygoptera - Damselflies

52 Damselfly species can be found in Sri Lanka.

Family: Calopterygidae

Family: Chlorocyphidae

Family: Euphaeidae

Family: Lestidae

Family: Coenagrionidae

Family: Platycnemididae

Family: Platystictidae

Family: Protoneuridae

Suborder: Anisoptera - Dragonflies.

69 Dragonfly species can be found in Sri Lanka.

Family: Aeshnidae

Family: Gomphidae

Family: Corduliidae

Family: Macromiidae

Family: Libellulidae

See also

References

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