PBDB Taxon

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

Zygoptera (damselfly)

Insecta - Odonata

Taxonomy

Zygoptera was named by Selys-Longchamps (1854). It is extant.

It was assigned to Odonata by Tillyard (1918), Carpenter (1992), Bechly (2000), Vega et al. (2006) and Bechly (2007).

Synonyms

Megalestes anglicus was named by Cockerell (1915). Its type specimen is USNM 61449, a wing (middle part of a wing), and it is an impression. Its type locality is Bembridge Marls (Brodie coll), which is in a Priabonian lagoonal/restricted shallow subtidal lime mudstone in the Bouldnor Formation of the United Kingdom.

It was considered a nomen dubium by Nel and Jarzembowski (1999) and Nel and Fleck (2014).
Podagrion abortivum was named by Scudder (1878). Its type specimen is MCZ 4169, a wing (fragment), and it is a compression fossil. Its type locality is Petrified fish cut (Scudder collection), which is in a Bridgerian lacustrine - large diatomite/shale in the Green River Formation of Wyoming.

It was recombined as Eopodagrion abortivum by Nel and Paicheler (1994); it was considered a nomen dubium by Nel (2022).
Agrion exhaustum was named by Hagen (1862). It is an impression. Its type locality is Solnhofen (BSPGM Munich coll), which is in a Tithonian lagoonal/restricted shallow subtidal lime mudstone in the Solnhofen Formation of Germany.

It was recombined as Coenagrion exhaustum by Kirby (1890); it was synonymized subjectively with Tarsophlebia eximia by Handlirsch (1906); it was considered a nomen dubium by Nel and Paicheler (1993).
Agrion hecticum was named by Hagen (1862). Its type specimen is (lost), an exoskeleton, and it is an impression. Its type locality is Solnhofen (BSPGM Munich coll), which is in a Tithonian lagoonal/restricted shallow subtidal lime mudstone in the Solnhofen Formation of Germany.

It was recombined as Coenagrion hecticum by Kirby (1890); it was considered a nomen dubium by Nel and Paicheler (1993).
Gomphus resinatus was named by Hagen (1848). It is an inclusion in amber.

It was recombined as Aeshna resinata by Kirby (1890); it was considered a nomen dubium by Nel and Paicheler (1994); it was considered a nomen nudum by Bechly and Wichard (2008).
Agrion thais was named by Hagen (1863). It is a compression fossil. Its type locality is Rott (Krantz Bonn coll), which is in a MP 30 lacustrine - large shale in the Rott Formation of Germany.

It was recombined as Coenagrion thais by Kirby (1890); it was considered a nomen dubium by Petrulevičius et al. (2011).
Agrion mysis was named by Hagen (1863). It is a compression fossil. Its type locality is Rott (Krantz Bonn coll), which is in a MP 30 lacustrine - large shale in the Rott Formation of Germany.

It was recombined as Coenagrion mysis by Kirby (1890); it was considered a nomen dubium by Petrulevičius et al. (2011).
Cephalozygoptera was named by Archibald et al. (2021).

It was considered an invalid subgroup of Odonata by Nel and Zheng (2021); it was synonymized subjectively with Zygoptera by Nel and Jouault (2022).

It was assigned to Odonata by Archibald et al. (2021) and Simonsen et al. (2022).

Synonymy list

Year	Name and author
1848	Gomphus resinatus Hagen p. 8
1850	Gomphus resinatus Hagen p. 358
1854	Zygoptera Selys-Longchamps
1862	Agrion hecticum Hagen
1862	Agrion exhaustum Hagen p. 106
1862	Agrion hecticum Hagen p. 106
1863	Agrion mysis Hagen p. 269 figs. Pl 44, fig 6
1863	Agrion thais Hagen p. 269 figs. Pl 44, fig 7
1878	Podagrion abortivum Scudder p. 775
1890	Aeshna resinata Kirby p. 168
1890	Podagrion abortivum Kirby p. 174
1890	Coenagrion exhaustum Kirby p. 175
1890	Coenagrion hecticum Kirby p. 175
1890	Coenagrion mysis Kirby p. 175
1890	Coenagrion thais Kirby p. 175
1890	Podagrion abortivum Scudder p. 134 figs. Pl 6 figs 7, 8
1896	Agrion hecticum Meunier p. 30 figs. Pl 1
1896	Agrion exhaustum Meunier p. 32 figs. Pl 2
1906	Agrion hecticum Handlirsch p. 598
1915	Megalestes anglicus Cockerell p. 498 figs. Pl 61, fig 9
1918	Zygoptera Tillyard
1992	Zygoptera Carpenter p. 85
1994	Eopodagrion abortivum Nel and Paicheler
1994	Megalestes anglicus Nel and Paicheler
2000	Zygoptera Bechly
2006	Zygoptera Vega et al. p. 327
2007	Zygoptera Bechly
2021	Cephalozygoptera Archibald et al. p. 27
2022	Cephalozygoptera Simonsen et al. p. 587

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

Rank	Name	Author
kingdom	Animalia	()
—	Bilateria
—	Eubilateria	Ax 1987
—	Protostomia
—	Ecdysozoa
—	Panarthropoda
phylum	Arthropoda	Latreille 1829
superclass	Hexapoda	Latreille 1825
class	Insecta
—	Dicondylia
—	Paranotalia
subclass	Pterygota	()
infraclass	Hydropalaeoptera	Rohdendorf 1969
—	Euhydropalaeoptera
—	Odonatoptera	Martynov 1932

Rank	Name	Author
—	Palaeodonatoptera
—	Plesiodonatoptera
—	Apodonatoptera
—	Paneodonatoptera
—	Neodonatoptera
—	Euodonatoptera
—	Odonatoclada	Bechly 1999
—	Nodialata
—	Discoidalia
—	Stigmoptera
—	Lobodonata
—	Panodonata
order	Odonata
suborder	Zygoptera	Selys-Longchamps 1854
suborder	Zygoptera	Selys-Longchamps 1854

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.

Subor. Zygoptera Selys-Longchamps 1854 [damselfly]

show all | hide all

G. †Andrephlebia Bechly 2019

†Andrephlebia buergeri Bechly 2019

Fm. †Burmadysagrionidae Zheng et al. 2016

G. †Burmadysagrion Zheng et al. 2016

†Burmadysagrion zhangi Zheng et al. 2016

G. †Electrodysagrion Zheng et al. 2017

†Electrodysagrion lini Zheng et al. 2017

†Electrodysagrion neli Zheng et al. 2019

G. †Palaeodysagrion Zheng et al. 2017

†Palaeodysagrion cretacicus Zheng et al. 2017

G. †Pseudopalaeodysagrion Bechly and Velten 2023

†Pseudopalaeodysagrion youlini Zheng et al. 2017

Unr. Caloptera Belyshev and Haritonov 1983

Unr. Eucaloptera Bechly 1996

Unr. Amphipterygida Bechly 1996

Superfm. †Amphipterygoidea Tillyard 1917

Fm. Amphipterygidae Selys 1853

G. †Pamita May and Carle 2005

Fm. Thaumatoneuridae Tillyard and Fraser 1938

Unr. Calopterygomorpha Bechly 1996

Unr. Calopterygiformia Bechly 1996

Unr. Calopterygida Bechly 1996

Unr. Euphaeida Bechly 1996

Superfm. Calopterygoidea Selys-Longchamps 1850

Fm. Calopterygidae Selys-Longchamps 1850 [broad-winged damselfly]

Fm. Chlorocyphidae Cowley 1937 [jewel damselfly]

Fm. Euphaeidae Jacobson and Bianchi 1905

Invalid names: Epallagidae Needham 1903 [synonym]

Fm. Hypolestidae Tillyard and Fraser 1938

Fm. Polythoridae

G. †Protothore Cockerell 1930

Invalid names: Chlorocyphoidea Cowley 1937 [synonym]

G. †Dinosamarura Pritykina 1985

†Dinosamarura tugnuica Pritykina 1985

G. †Eopodagrion Cockerell 1921

†Eopodagrion scudderi Cockerell 1921

Unr. Euzygoptera Bechly 1996

Fm. †Argiolestidae Fraser 1957

Subfm. Argiolestinae Fraser 1960

G. †Librelula Petrulevičius 2020

†Librelula maradoniana Petrulevičius 2020

G. †Lithagrion Scudder 1890

†Lithagrion elongatum Martynov 1929

†Lithagrion hyalinum Scudder 1890

G. †Melanagrion Cockerell 1907

†Melanagrion nigerrimum Cockerell 1908

†Melanagrion umbratum Scudder 1890

G. †Miopodagrion Kennedy 1925

†Miopodagrion optimum Cockerell 1916

Unr. Coenagriomorpha Bechly 1996

Fm. Megapodagrionidae Tillyard 1917 [flatwing]

G. †Cretapodagrion Huang et al. 2017

†Cretapodagrion sibelleae Huang et al. 2017

G. †Eckfeldia Petrulevičius et al. 2008

†Eckfeldia superstes Wappler 2003

G. †Electropodagrion Azar and Nel 2008

†Electropodagrion szwedoi Azar and Nel 2008

G. †Hanklitia Zessin 2011

†Hanklitia hankliti Zessin 2011

G. Megapodagrion Selys-Longchamps 1885

Invalid names: Podagrion Selys-Longchamps 1862 [replaced]

G. †Oligoargiolestes Kennedy 1925

†Oligoargiolestes oligocenum Kennedy 1925

G. †Phyonganpodagrion So and Won 2021

†Phyonganpodagrion ryonsangae So and Won 2021

G. †Viridiflumineagrion Nel 2022

†Viridiflumineagrion aasei Nel 2022

G. †Vulcagrion Nel and Paicheler 1994

†Vulcagrion andancensis Nel et al. 1996

†Vulcagrion cantalensis Nel et al. 1996

†Vulcagrion propedamontanum Piton 1935

†Vulcagrion propedemontanum Piton 1935

Invalid names: Megapodagrioniidae Tillyard 1917 [empty]

Unr. Coenagrionomorpha Bechly 1996

Unr. Coenagrioniformia Bechly 1996

Unr. Coenagrionida Bechly 1996

Superfm. Coenagrionoidea Kirby 1890

Superfm. Pseudostigmatoidea Kirby 1890

G. †Cretarchistigma Jarzembowski et al. 1998

†Cretarchistigma essweini Bechly 1998

†Cretarchistigma greenwoodi Jarzembowski et al. 1998

Unr. Lestomorpha Bechly 1996

Fm. Hemiphlebiidae Tillyard 1926 [greenling]

G. †Burmahemiphlebia Zheng et al. 2017

†Burmahemiphlebia hui Zheng and Wang 2018

†Burmahemiphlebia zhangi Zheng et al. 2017

G. †Electrohemiphlebia Lak et al. 2009

†Electrohemiphlebia barucheli Lak et al. 2009

G. †Enteropia Pritykina and Vassilenko 2014

†Enteropia mongolica Pritykina and Vassilenko 2014

G. †Jordanhemiphlebia Kaddumi 2009

†Jordanhemiphlebia electronica Kaddumi 2009

G. †Jurahemiphlebia Bechly 2019

†Jurahemiphlebia haeckeli Bechly 2019

G. †Kachinhemiphlebia Zheng 2020

†Kachinhemiphlebia lini Zheng 2020

G. †Mersituria Vasilenko 2005

†Mersituria ludmilae Vasilenko 2005

G. †Pantelusa Vassilenko 2014

†Pantelusa krassilovi Vassilenko 2014

G. †Parahemiphlebia Jarzembowski et al. 1998

†Parahemiphlebia allendaviesi Jarzembowski et al. 1998

†Parahemiphlebia cretacica Jarzembowski et al. 1998

†Parahemiphlebia mickoleiti Bechly 1998

G. †Thairia Felker and Vasilenko 2018

†Thairia transbaikalica Felker and Vasilenko 2018

Unr. Lestiformia Bechly 1996

Fm. †Cretacoenagrionidae Bechly 1995

G. †Cretacoenagrion Jarzembowski 1990

Unr. Eulestiformia Bechly 1996

Fm. †Austroperilestidae Petrulevičius and Nel 2005

Unr. Lestida Bechly 1996

Superfm. Lestinoidea Calvert 1901

G. †Libanolestes Azar et al. 2010

†Libanolestes flecki Azar et al. 2010

G. †Furagrion Petrulevičius et al. 2008

†Furagrion ansorgei Zessin 2011

†Furagrion jutlandicus Henriksen 1922

Invalid names: Furagrion morsi Zessin 2011 [synonym]

Invalid names: Morsagrion Zessin 2011 [synonym]

G. †Gasophlebia Lin 1982

†Gasophlebia taianensis Lin 1982

Superfm. Hemiphlebioidea Tillyard and Fraser 1938

G. †Cretahemiphlebia Jarzembowski et al. 1998

†Cretahemiphlebia rossi Jarzembowski et al. 1998

G. †Italolestes Nel et al. 2005

†Italolestes stroppai Nel et al. 2005

Fm. †Mesomegaloprepidae Huang et al. 2017

G. †Cretamegaloprepus Zheng et al. 2018

†Cretamegaloprepus zhouae Zheng et al. 2018

G. †Mesomegaloprepus Huang et al. 2017

†Mesomegaloprepus magnificus Huang et al. 2017

Superfm. Platystictoidea Kennedy 1920

Fm. Platystictidae Kennedy 1920 [shadowdamsel]

Subfm. †Mesostictinae Zheng et al. 2017

G. †Mesosticta Huang et al. 2015

†Mesosticta burmatica Huang et al. 2015

†Mesosticta davidattenboroughi Zheng et al. 2017

†Mesosticta electronica Zheng et al. 2016

G. †Pulchrairina Martynov et al. 2022

†Pulchrairina electra Martynov et al. 2022

G. †Samarura Brauer et al. 1889

†Samarura gigantea Brauer et al. 1889

Invalid names: Samarura angusta Brauer et al. 1889 [synonym], Samarura minor Brauer et al. 1889 [synonym], Samarura pulla Brauer et al. 1889 [synonym], Samarura rotundata Brauer et al. 1889 [synonym]

†Samarura punctaticaudata Hong 1983

G. †Santanagrion Bechly 2010

†Santanagrion longipes Bechly 2010

Fm. †Steleopteridae Handlirsch 1906

G. †Auliella Pritykina 1968

†Auliella crucigera Pritykina 1968

G. †Euparasteleopteron Fleck et al. 2001

†Euparasteleopteron viohli Fleck et al. 2001

G. †Parasteleopteron Fleck et al. 2001

†Parasteleopteron guischardi Fleck et al. 2001

G. †Steleopteron Handlirsch 1906

†Steleopteron cretacicus Zheng et al. 2018

†Steleopteron deichmuelleri Handlirsch 1906

G. †Steropoides Kirby 1890

†Steropoides parthenope Heer 1849

Invalid names: Sterope Heer 1849 [replaced]

G. †Valerea Garrouste et al. 2016

†Valerea multicellulata Garrouste et al. 2016

Invalid names: Agrion exhaustum Hagen 1862 [nomen dubium], Agrion hecticum Hagen 1862 [nomen dubium], Agrion mysis Hagen 1863 [nomen dubium], Agrion thais Hagen 1863 [nomen dubium], Cephalozygoptera Archibald et al. 2021 [synonym], Gomphus resinatus Hagen 1848 [nomen nudum], Megalestes anglicus Cockerell 1915 [nomen dubium], Podagrion abortivum Scudder 1878 [nomen dubium]

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 Rhaetian to the top of the Irvingtonian or 208.50000 to 0.30000 Ma
Minimum age of oldest fossil (stem group age): 201.3 Ma

Collections (261 total)

Time interval	Ma	Country or state	Original ID and collection number
Oldest occurrences
Rhaetian	208.5 - 201.3	Australia (Queensland)	Samarura sp. (128274)
Toarcian	182.7 - 174.1	Russian Federation (Irkutsk)	Samarura gigantea, Samarura minor, Samarura pulla, Samarura angusta, Samarura rotundata (114696)
Middle Jurassic	174.7 - 161.5	China (Heilongjiang)	Samarura gigantea (173106)
Callovian - Oxfordian	166.1 - 157.3	China (Hebei)	Samarura gigantea (113473)
Callovian - Oxfordian	166.1 - 157.3	China (Liaoning)	Samarura gigantea (113475 154823 157658)
Callovian - Oxfordian	166.1 - 157.3	Kazakhstan (Chimkent)	Auliella crucigera (105971 106279)
Oxfordian	163.5 - 157.3	Russian Federation (Buryatia)	Dinosamarura sp. (123194 125491 125492)
Oxfordian	163.5 - 157.3	Russian Federation (Buryat)	Dinosamarura tugnuica (105017)
Late/Upper Kimmeridgian	155.7 - 150.8	Germany (Bayern)	Jurahemiphlebia haeckeli (227118)
Tithonian	152.1 - 145.0	Mongolia	Enteropia mongolica (104748)
Early/Lower Tithonian	150.8 - 145.0	Germany	Parasteleopteron guischardi, Euparasteleopteron viohli (122880)
Early/Lower Tithonian	150.8 - 145.0	Germany (Bayern)	Agrion exhaustum, Agrion hecticum (123985) Andrephlebia buergeri (139551 227117 227140) Euparasteleopteron viohli (117534 139547) Jurahemiphlebia haeckeli (227141) Parasteleopteron guischardi (152905) Steleopteron deichmuelleri (123144)
Late/Upper Berriasian	145.0 - 140.2	United Kingdom (England)	Parahemiphlebia allendaviesi (103833)
Late/Upper Hauterivian	136.4 - 130.0	United Kingdom (Surrey)	Steleopteron cretacicus (74972)
Late/Upper Hauterivian	136.4 - 130.0	United Kingdom (England)	Cretalestes martinae (106281) Cretarchistigma greenwoodi (123451) Cretarchistigma greenwoodi, Hemiphlebioidea indet., Cretacoenagrion alleni (106417)
Early/Lower Barremian	130.0 - 125.45	Lebanon	Libanolestes flecki (138801)
Early/Lower Barremian	130.0 - 125.45	Spain	Samarura sp. (152690 152691)
Early/Lower Barremian	130.0 - 125.45	United Kingdom (England)	Cretahemiphlebia rossi (104005) Cretarchistigma greenwoodi (45193 118921)
Late/Upper Barremian	130.0 - 125.45	China (Zhejiang)	Cretaphylolestes cretacicus (223262)
Late/Upper Barremian	130.0 - 125.45	United Kingdom (England)	Cretarchistigma greenwoodi (123455)