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Family Gomphidae - Clubtails

Cherokee Clubtail - Stenogomphurus consanguis - female Maine Snaketail in New Brunswick, dorsal view - Ophiogomphus mainensis - male Grappletail - Octogomphus specularis Sinuous Snaketail - Ophiogomphus occidentis - male Dromogomphus spoliatus ? - Dromogomphus spoliatus Lilypad or Unicorn Clubtail Dragonfly? - female Lanthus parvulus (?), nymph - Lanthus Stylurus scudderi - male
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselflies)
Suborder Anisoptera (Dragonflies)
Family Gomphidae (Clubtails)
Explanation of Names
Named because many species have an inflated end to the end of the abdomen that forms a club shape.
Numbers
ca. 100 spp. in 14 genera in our area(1), >900 spp. in ~90 genera worldwide(2)
Size
Medium to large dragonflies, 40mm to 60mm
Identification
Their widely separated eyes are diagnostic. (3)

Many species have the inflated club tip, but not all do. Some are very noticeably inflated, others less so.

Individual species can be identified though a combination of colour pattern combined with the male tail appendages, male secondary genitalia(hamuels) or female genitalia plates. If possible overall photos should be taken from both above and the side, close up photos should be taken above and from the side of the male tail appendages, close up of the male secondary genitalia from the side and close up of the female genitalia ventraly. A good fieldguide will have illustrations of these features for each species.

Male tail appendages: , ,

Male secondary genitalia: , ,

Female genitalia plates: ,
Range
worldwide(4)
Works Cited
1.Dragonfly Society of the Americas. 2012. North American Odonata
2.Australian Faunal Directory
3.Field Guide to The Dragonflies and Damselflies of Algonquin Provincial Park and the Surrounding Area
Colin D. Jones, Andrea Kingsley, Peter Burke, and Matt Holder. 2008. Friends of Algonquin.
4.Dragonflies of the World
Jill Silsby. 2001. Smithsonian Institution Press.