Basic info Taxonomic history Classification Included Taxa
Morphology Ecology and taphonomy External Literature Search Age range and collections

Aeshnoptera

Insecta - Odonata

Synonymy list
YearName and author
1996Aeshnoptera Bechly
2001Aeshnoptera Bechly et al. p. 19
2007Aeshnoptera Bechly
2008Aeshnoptera Nel et al. p. 165

Is something missing? Join the Paleobiology Database and enter the data

RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
—Bilateria
—EubilateriaAx 1987
—Protostomia
—EcdysozoaAguinaldo et al. 1997
—Panarthropoda
phylumArthropodaGravenhorst 1843
—Deuteropoda
—Mandibulata
—PancrustaceaZrzavý and Štys 1997
—AltocrustaceaRegier et al. 2010
superclassAllotriocarida
—Athalassocarida
—LabiocaridaSchwentner et al. 2017
superclassHexapodaLatreille 1825
—Cercofilata
classInsecta
—Dicondylia
—Paranotalia
subclassPterygota()
infraclassHydropalaeopteraRohdendorf 1969
—Euhydropalaeoptera
—OdonatopteraMartynov 1932
RankNameAuthor
—Palaeodonatoptera
—Plesiodonatoptera
—Apodonatoptera
—Paneodonatoptera
—Neodonatoptera
—Euodonatoptera
—OdonatocladaBechly 1999
—Nodialata
—Discoidalia
—Stigmoptera
—Lobodonata
—Panodonata
orderOdonata
—Epiproctophora
—EuepiproctophoraBechly 1998
—Anisopteromorpha
—Trigonoptera
—Pananisoptera
—NeoanisopteraBechly 1998
suborderAnisopteraSelys-Longchamps and Hagen 1854
—Euanisoptera
—Aeshnoptera
—Aeshnoptera

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

Unr. Aeshnoptera Bechly 1996
show all | hide all
Unr. Aeshnomorpha Bechly et al. 2001
+
Unr. Austropetaliida Bechly et al. 2001
+
Invalid names: Archipetaliidae Bechly 1996 [empty]
Unr. Panaeshnida Bechly et al. 2001
+
Unr. Aeshnida Bechly 1996
+
Superfm. †Cymatophlebioidea Handlirsch 1906
+
Fm. †Cymatophlebiidae Handlirsch 1906
Fm. †Rudiaeschnidae Bechly et al. 2001
Unr. Paneuaeshnida Bechly et al. 2001
+
Unr. Euaeshnida Bechly 1996
Fm. †Paracymatophlebiidae Bechly et al. 2001
Fm. †Progobiaeshnidae Bechly et al. 2001
+
G. †Decoraeshna Li et al. 2012
+
†Decoraeshna preciosa Li et al. 2012
G. †Gobiaeshna Pritykina 1977
+
†Gobiaeshna occulta Pritykina 1977
G. †Mongoliaeshna Nel and Huang 2010
+
†Mongoliaeshna exiguusens Li et al. 2012
†Mongoliaeshna hadrens Li et al. 2012
†Mongoliaeshna sinica Nel and Huang 2010
G. †Paradecoraeshna Zheng et al. 2018
+
†Paradecoraeshna liaoningensis Zheng et al. 2018
G. †Progobiaeshna Bechly et al. 2001
+
†Progobiaeshna liaoningensis Bechly et al. 2001
G. †Telmaeshna Zhang et al. 2008
+
†Telmaeshna paradoxica Zhang et al. 2008
Fm. †Burmaeshnidae Huang et al. 2017
+
G. †Angustaeshna Huang et al. 2017
+
†Angustaeshna magnifica Huang et al. 2017
G. †Burmaeshna Huang et al. 2017
+
†Burmaeshna azari Huang et al. 2017
G. †Cretaeshna Zheng et al. 2016
+
†Cretaeshna lini Zheng et al. 2016
G. †Neoaeschna Liu et al. 2024
+
†Neoaeschna kachinensis Liu et al. 2024
G. †Proaeschna Wei et al. 2019
+
†Proaeschna zhangi Wei et al. 2019
G. †Cymatophlebiella Pritykina 1968
+
†Cymatophlebiella euryptera Pritykina 1968
Fm. †Enigmaeshnidae Nel et al. 2008
+
G. †Enigmaeshna Nel et al. 2008
+
†Enigmaeshna deprei Nel et al. 2008
Fm. †Liupanshaniidae Bechly et al. 2001
+
G. †Araripeliupanshania Bechly et al. 2001
+
†Araripeliupanshania annesuseae Bechly et al. 2001
G. †Brasiliupanshania Ribeiro and Nel 2023
+
†Brasiliupanshania cretacica Ribeiro and Nel 2023
G. †Cratoliupanshania Pella and Nel 2020
+
†Cratoliupanshania magnifica Pella and Nel 2020
G. †Galloliupanshania Nel et al. 2015
+
†Galloliupanshania incompleta Nel et al. 2015
G. †Guyuanaeschnidia Lin 1982
+
G. †Libanoliupanshania Azar et al. 2019
+
†Libanoliupanshania mimi Azar et al. 2019
G. †Liupanshania Hong 1982
+
G. †Paraliupanshania Bechly et al. 2001
+
†Paraliupanshania britannica Bechly et al. 2001
†Paraliupanshania rohdendorfi Bechly et al. 2001
†Paraliupanshania torvaldsi Bechly et al. 2001
G. †Paramesuropetala Bechly et al. 2001
+
†Paramesuropetala gigantea Bechly et al. 2001
G. †Protoliupanshania Huang and Nel 2010
+
†Protoliupanshania wangi Huang and Nel 2010
Superfm. †Mesuropetaloidea Bechly 1996
+
Fm. †Mesuropetalidae Bechly 1996
+
G. †Aeschnopsis Handlirsch 1939
+
†Aeschnopsis jurassica Giebel 1856
†Aeschnopsis perampla Brodie 1845
+
Invalid names: Cymatophlebiopsis pseudobubas Handlirsch 1939 [synonym]
†Aeschnopsis perkinsi Bechly et al. 2001
†Aeschnopsis tischlingeri Bechly et al. 2001
Invalid names: Aeschnopsis Cowley 1942 [objective synonym], Cymatophlebiopsis Handlirsch 1939 [synonym]
G. †Mesuropetala Handlirsch 1906
+
†Mesuropetala auliensis Pritykina 1968
†Mesuropetala costalis Pritykina 1968
†Mesuropetala magna Bechly et al. 2001
†Mesuropetala muensteri Germar 1839
+
Invalid names: Gomphus koehleri Hagen 1848 [synonym]
†Mesuropetala schmiedeli Giebel 1856
Invalid names: Morbaeschna Needham 1907 [synonym]
G. †Paraeschnopsis Bechly 2010
+
G. †Sinomesuropetala Boudet et al. 2022
+
†Sinomesuropetala daohugensis Boudet et al. 2022
G. †Parapetala Huang et al. 2003
+
†Parapetala liaoningensis Huang et al. 2003
†Parapetala yixianensis Zheng et al. 2022
G. †Propecymatophlebia Huang et al. 2017
+
†Propecymatophlebia magnifica Huang et al. 2017
G. †Pseudoliupanshania Zheng et al. 2022
+
†Pseudoliupanshania magnanicellula Zheng et al. 2022
G. †Sinocymatophlebiella Li et al. 2011
+
Diagnosis
No diagnoses are available
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: chitino
Form: roller-shapedo
Environment: freshwater, terrestrialo
Locomotion: fast-movingo
Life habit: volanto
Diet: carnivoreo
Diet 2: insectivoreo
Vision: well-developedo
Dispersal: watero
Created: 2011-03-07 03:41:10
Modified: 2011-03-06 10:41:10
Source: o = order
Reference: Ren and Guo 1996

Age range

Maximum range based only on fossils: base of the Callovian to the top of the Holocene or 165.30000 to 0.00000 Ma
Minimum age of oldest fossil (stem group age): 154.8 Ma

Collections (183 total)


Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Callovian - Oxfordian165.3 - 154.8China (Nei Mongol) Sinacymatophlebia mongolica, Linqibinia panae, Propecymatophlebia magnifica, Sinomesuropetala daohugensis, Cymatophlebia daohugouensis (113371) Sinocymatophlebiella hasticercus (113366)
Early/Lower Kimmeridgian154.8 - 152.21Germany (Baden-Wurttemberg) Cymatophlebia herrienae (105965) Cymatophlebia suevica (105964)
Kimmeridgian154.8 - 149.2Kazakhstan Cymatophlebiella euryptera (105970 105971) Mesuropetala auliensis, Mesuropetala costalis (106101) Paracymatophlebia splendida (105426)
Late/Upper Kimmeridgian152.21 - 149.2Germany (Swabian Alb) Libellulium longialatum (106402)
Early/Lower Tithonian149.2 - 145.06Germany (Bavaria) Aeschna multicellulosa (152880) Cymatophlebia longialata (152603 152884) Cymatophlebia longialata, Cymatophlebia jurassica (139876) Mesuropetala muensteri, Cymatophlebia longialata, Cymatophlebia pumilio, Cymatophlebia kuempeli, Eumorbaeschna jurassica, Protolindenia koehleri, Aeschnopsis perkinsi, Morbaeschna muensteri (122586) Mesuropetala muensteri, Mesuropetala koehleri, Cymatophlebia longialata, Eumorbaeschna jurassica (123994)
Early/Lower Tithonian149.2 - 145.06Germany Cymatophlebia longialata (122880) Cymatophlebia longialata, Eumorbaeschna jurassica (105799)
Early/Lower Tithonian149.2 - 145.06Germany (Bayern) Aeschna grandis (154305) Aeschna muensteri, Mesuropetala koehleri, Libellula longialata, Eumorbaeschna jurassica (123985) Aeschnopsis tischlingeri, Cymatophlebia pumilio (105541) Cymatophlebia densa (152881) Cymatophlebia longialata (105798 139550 152882 152901) Cymatophlebia longialata, Eumorbaeschna jurassica (122730 152883) Cymatophlebia longialata, Uropetala koehleri (123906 133578) Cymatophlebia pumilio (117534) Eumorbaeschna jurassica (139547) Mesuropetala koehleri, Cymatophlebia longialata (123144) Mesuropetala koehleri, Cymatophlebia longialata, Cymatophlebia pumilio, Cymatophlebia kuempeli, Eumorbaeschna jurassica (139551) Mesuropetala muensteri, Cymatophlebia longialata (105797 131959 139548) Mesuropetalidae indet. (131851)
Early/Lower Tithonian149.2 - 145.06Poland Eumorbaeschna adriankini (140049)
Late/Upper Tithonian - Early/Lower Berriasian145.06 - 141.0Spain Cymatophlebia longialata (224315)
Berriasian143.1 - 137.05United Kingdom (England) Aeschnopsis perampla (105539) Libellulium agrias, Odonata indet. (127481)
Middle Berriasian141.0 - 139.1United Kingdom (England) Cymatophlebia purbeckensis (153648) Lindeniinae indet. 2 (104008)
Late/Upper Berriasian139.1 - 137.05United Kingdom (England) Cretalloaeschna cliffordae (103833) Prohoyaeshna milleri (104003)
Valanginian - Early/Lower Hauterivian137.05 - 125.77China (Gansu) Fuxiaeschna hsiufunia (156355)
Hauterivian132.6 - 125.77Algeria Gomphaeschnidae indet. (123148)
Late/Upper Hauterivian132.6 - 125.77United Kingdom (England) Valdaeshna andressi, Plesigomphaeschnaoides pindelskii (106281)
Late/Upper Hauterivian132.6 - 125.77United Kingdom (Surrey) Valdaeshna surreyensis (160653)
Barremian125.77 - 121.4Russian Federation (Chita) Gomphaeschna sibirica (105968)
Barremian125.77 - 121.4China (Ningxia) Guyuanaeschnidia eximia (123447)
Early/Lower Barremian125.77 - 121.4United Kingdom (England) Paraliupanshania britannica, Libellulium standingae, Libellulium zdrzaleki (104005) Valdaeshna mikei (45193)
Early/Lower Barremian125.77 - 121.4Spain Palaeaeschna vidali (104052 118362 123437)
Late/Upper Barremian125.77 - 121.4China (Liaoning) Aeschna acrodonta (148368) Progobiaeshna liaoningensis, Parapetala liaoningensis (105795) Protoliupanshania wangi (152005) Protoliupanshania wangi, Paradecoraeshna liaoningensis, Parapetala yixianensis, Pseudoliupanshania magnanicellula (111725) Rudiaeschna limnobia (111716 138436) Rudiaeschna limnobia, Sinojagoria imperfecta (105809) Sinojagoria cancellosa, Sinojagoria magna, Decoraeshna preciosa (124759) Sinojagoria magna, Cymatophlebia yixianensis (176229) Telmaeshna paradoxica (111722)
Late/Upper Barremian125.77 - 121.4China (Nei Mongol) Mongoliaeshna sinica, Rudiaeschna jarzembowskii (125655) Sophoaeschna frigida, Falsisophoaeschna generalis, Mongoliaeshna hadrens, Mongoliaeshna exiguusens (125656)
Late/Upper Barremian125.77 - 121.4Spain (Cuenca) Hoyaeshna cretacica (152992)
Aptian121.4 - 113.2China (Ningxia) Liupanshania sijiensis (105793)
Aptian121.4 - 113.2Mongolia Gobiaeshna occulta (105796) Gomphaeschna sibirica (103655) Plesigomphaeschnaoides mongolensis (103657)
Aptian121.4 - 113.2Russian Federation (Buryatia) Baissaeshna zherikhini (105969) Mesuropetala magna, Gomphaeschna inferna, Baissaeshna prisca (105536)
Late/Upper Aptian119.57 - 113.2Brazil (Ceará) Araripeliupanshania annesuseae (122922) Araripeliupanshania annesuseae, Anomalaeschna berndschusteri, Paramorbaeschna araripensis (122924) Araripeliupanshania annesuseae, Gomphaeschna obliqua, Gomphaeschnaoides magnus, Gomphaeschnaoides petersi (122919) Brasiliupanshania cretacica (217013) Cratoliupanshania magnifica (215125) Gomphaeschna obliqua (122352) Gomphaeschna obliqua, Gomphaeschnaoides betoreti (123011) Gomphaeschnaoides magnus (123012) Paraeschnopsis brasiliensis, Paramesuropetala gigantea, Araripeliupanshania annesuseae, Paramorbaeschna araripensis, Gomphaeschna obliqua, Gomphaeschnaoides obliquus, Gomphaeschnaoides magnus (122557) Paramesuropetala gigantea, Paramorbaeschna araripensis (122553) Paramorbaeschna araripensis, Gomphaeschna obliqua (122925) Primumaeshna britta (215116) Progomphaeschnaoides staniczeki, Gomphaeschnaoides magnus, Gomphaeschnaoides petersi (123010) Progomphaeschnaoides ursulae (122556)
Cenomanian100.5 - 93.9Russian Federation (Krasnoyarsk) Paraliupanshania rohdendorfi (105794)
Early/Lower Cenomanian100.5 - 93.9France Galloliupanshania incompleta (162748)
Early/Lower Cenomanian100.5 - 93.9Myanmar Cretagomphaeschnaoides jarzembowskae, Cretaeshna lini, Burmaeshna azari, Angustaeshna magnifica, Kachinaeshna zhuoi, Neoaeschna kachinensis (161726) Proaeschna zhangi (165561)
Early/Lower Cenomanian100.5 - 93.9France (Charente-Maritime) Enigmaeshna deprei (119082)
Late/Upper Cenomanian100.5 - 93.9Lebanon Libanoliupanshania mimi (196672)
Turonian93.9 - 89.8Kazakhstan Paraliupanshania torvaldsi (103274)
Selandian61.66 - 59.24France (Auvergne) Aeschnidiidae indet. (113685)
Tiffanian60.9 - 57.5USA (North Dakota) Gomphaeschna schrankii (15000)
Tiffanian60.9 - 57.5Canada (Alberta) Aeshnidae indet., Gomphaeschninae indet., Alloaeschna paskapooensis, Alloaeschna quadrata (119839) Alloaeschna paskapooensis (119828 119832) Alloaeschna paskapooensis, Gomphidae indet. (119816) Alloaeschna sp. (232706)
Thanetian - Ypresian59.24 - 48.07USA (Alaska) Basiaeschna alaskaensis (204785)
Ypresian56.0 - 48.07USA (Washington) Aeshnidae indet. A, Antiquiala snyderae, Idemlinea versatilis, Ypshna brownleei (103206)
Ypresian56.0 - 48.07Canada (British Columbia) Aeshnidae indet. (226231) Ypshna latipennata (147816) Ypshna latipennata, Eoshna thompsonensis (103205)
Ypresian56.0 - 48.07Denmark Gomphaeschna danica (120023) Gomphaeschna paleocenica (113029) Parabaissaeshna ejerslevense (199521)
Ypresian56.0 - 48.07Argentina (Chubut) Huncoaeshna corrugata (75178)
Lutetian48.07 - 41.03United Kingdom (England) Triaeschna gossi (113860)
Lutetian48.07 - 41.03USA (Montana) Kishenehna prima (203699)
MP 1148.07 - 41.03Germany (Hessen) Aeschnidae indet. (120798)
MP 1348.07 - 41.03Germany (Eifel) Gomphaeschnidae indet. (135641)
Priabonian37.71 - 33.9United Kingdom (England) Aeschnophlebia andreasi, Anglogomphaeschna eocenica (207258) Anglogomphaeschna eocenica, Gynacanthinae indet. A (123960) Oligoaeschna anglica, Aeschnophlebia andreasi, Anglogomphaeschna eocenica (21976) Oligoaeschna anglica, Aeschnophlebia andreasi, Oligaeschna wedmanni (127743) Oligoaeschna anglica, Oplonaeschna vectensis, Anglogomphaeschna eocenica, Oligaeschna wedmanni (123959)
Priabonian37.71 - 33.9Poland Aeshnidae indet. specimen 1 (123215)
Priabonian37.71 - 33.9Russian Federation (Kaliningrad) Elektrogomphaeschna annekeae (123936) Elektrogomphaeschna peterthieli (120814)
Priabonian37.71 - 33.9China (Xizang) Oligaeschna sinica (224485)
Chadronian37.0 - 33.9USA (Colorado) Aeschna solida, Aeschna larvata, Aeschna separata (106384) Aeshna larvata (123119) Lithaeschna needhami, Oplonaeschna separata, Aeschna solida (106381) Oplonaeschna lapidaria (106380)
Early/Lower Oligocene33.9 - 27.3Spain Aeshnidae indet., Aeshna sp. (113990)
MP 2133.9 - 27.3France Aeshna caseneuvensis (233239)
MP 2333.9 - 27.3France Aeschna ollivieri (122984)
Rupelian33.9 - 27.3Czechia Aeshna sp. (181764) Kvacekia infuscata (31643)
Rupelian33.9 - 27.3Czechia (Moravia) Oligaeschna kvaceki (104941)
Rupelian33.9 - 27.3Germany Aeshnidae indet., Aeschna heterofasciata (122407)
Rupelian33.9 - 27.3France (Alpes-de-Haute) Aeschna paleocyanea (114016)
Oligocene33.9 - 23.04France Oligaeschna jungi (127946)
Chattian27.3 - 23.04France (Bouches-du-Rhone) Aeschna palaeocoerulea (155869)
Chattian27.3 - 23.04Kazakhstan (Saisan) Epacantha magnifica, Basiaeschna ashutasica, Projagoria conjuncta, Necracantha sp., Necracantha composita (114018) Necracantha proxima (120121)
Chattian27.3 - 23.04France (Bouches-Du-Rhone) Aeshna oligocenica (127415)
Late/Upper Oligocene27.3 - 23.04France (Puy-de-Dome) Oligaeschna jungi (155204)
Late/Upper Oligocene27.3 - 23.04France (Aix-en-Provence) Epiaeschna pseudoheros, Jagoria oligocenica (114117)
MP 2827.3 - 23.04Germany (Rheinland-Pfalz) Oligaeschna jungi, Epiaeschna wisseri (71942)
MP 3027.3 - 23.04Germany Aeschna dido (123945)
Aquitanian23.04 - 20.45Denmark Oplonaeschna staurophlebioides (164572)
Aquitanian23.04 - 20.45Germany Projagoria conjuncta, Aeschnidiidae indet. (123872)
Early/Lower Miocene23.04 - 15.98Spain (Castellon) Aeshnidae indet. (140798) Oligaeschna saurai (122583)
Early/Lower Miocene23.04 - 15.98Azerbaijan Heliaeschna parallela (127434)
Burdigalian20.45 - 15.98China (Shandong) Epiaeschna matutina, Aeshna shanwangensis, Aeshna forficatum (160472) Jagoria sinica (128550) Mediaeschna lucida (128552 138944) Mediaeschna lucida, Aeschna ignivora (128551) Mediaeschna matutina (128549)
Burdigalian20.45 - 15.98Czechia Aeshna zlatkokvaceki (181763)
MN 320.0 - 16.9Czechia Aeshnidae indet. (150934) Merlax bohemicus, Gomphaeschna miocenica (105508)
Langhian15.98 - 13.82USA (Idaho) Gomphaeschninae indet. (130391)
Middle Miocene15.98 - 11.63Russian Federation Aeshna stavropolensis (105571)
Middle Miocene15.98 - 11.63Russian Federation (Stavropol) Epiaeschna stauropolitana (114118)
Middle Miocene15.98 - 11.63Bulgaria Oligaeschna bulgariensis (181730)
Middle Miocene - Late/Upper Miocene15.98 - 5.333China (Yunnan) Jingguaeshna taoae (229451)
Badenian13.82 - 12.8Austria Gomphaeschna carinthiae (184615)
Sarmatian12.8 - 11.63Germany (Baden-Württemberg) Aeschna polydore (115305) Aeschna tyche (115304)
Sarmatian12.8 - 11.63Croatia Aeschna metis (117250)
Sarmatian12.8 - 11.63Germany (Wurttemberg) Aeschnidae indet. (113752)
Vallesian - Turolian11.63 - 5.09Spain Aeshna cerdanica (113995)
Turolian8.725 - 5.09France (Ardèche) Aeshna andancensi, Aeschnophlebia miocenica (113893) Aeshna sp., Aeshna turoliana (156164) Nasiaeschna miocenica (227089)
Messinian7.246 - 5.333Austria Aeschna voesendorfensis (127417)
Messinian7.246 - 5.333Italy Anax sp., Aeshna sp., Anax cryptus, Anax imperator, Anax ephippiger, Anax parthenope, Aeshna messiniana, Aeshna ghiandonii, Aeshna multicellulata (113886)
Messinian7.246 - 5.333France (Cantal) Allopetalia europaea (122195)
Blancan4.7 - 1.4USA (Texas) Aeshnidae indet. (154909)
Late/Upper Pliocene3.6 - 2.58Japan Oligoaeschna pryeri (127452)
Piacenzian3.6 - 2.58Germany (Niedersachsen) Aeschnidae indet. (109196)
Gelasian2.58 - 1.8France Gomphaeschnini indet., Aeschna theobaldi (113996)
Pleistocene2.58 - 0.0117Slovakia Aeshna grandis (127418)
Holocene0.0117 - 0.0France Aeshna isosceles (127419)