Zygoptera systematics: past, present, and future
Abstract Odonata is a midsized insect order (~6420 species) containing 3 suborders: Anisoptera (dragonflies, 3,120 species), Zygoptera (damselflies, ~3,297 species), and the intermediate Anisozygoptera (~3 species). In this review of the suborder Zygoptera, we provide a brief overview of their biology, ecology, and natural history. We also review the current state of their systematics and phylogenetics, highlighting remaining higher-level classification (eg family, superfamily) issues to address. Lastly, we will emphasize areas that are still in need of exploration which would greatly improve our understanding of the group.
Authors
- Leandro Juen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6188-4386)
- Maren Wellenreuther (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2764-8291)
- Vincent J. Kalkman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1484-7865)
- Robert Guralnick (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6682-1504)
- Ethan Tolman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2594-2833)
- Laura N. Sutherland (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2533-2891)
- Rhainer Guillermo Nascimento Ferreira (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7774-5252)
- John C. Abbott (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6773-3976)
- Judicael Fomekong‐Lontchi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2412-9434)
- Rosa Ana Sánchez‐Guillén (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6024-8321)
- Ken Tennessen
- Yiselle Cano-Cobos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6852-4239)
- Cornelio Andrés Bota-Sierra (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6555-7913)
- Adolfo Cordero‐Rivera (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5087-3550)
- Melissa Sánchez Herrera (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5144-4996)
- Paul B. Frandsen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4801-7579)
- Sebastian Büsse (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1657-7950)
- Manpreet K. Kohli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3896-4513)
- Rofela Combey (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4645-4588)
- Aaron Goodman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7051-8249)
- Yuan Lin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3882-174X)
- Gabriela Jijón (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1893-3904)
- Pungki Lupiyaningdyah (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5247-9381)
- Jessica L. Ware (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4066-7681)
- Lacie Newton (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7269-6244)
- Seth Bybee (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6224-6303)
- Pablo Pessacq (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3143-8876)
- Christopher D. Beatty (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2641-0000)
- Rhema Uche‐Dike (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7182-0300)
- Payton R Carter
- Robert K Hadfiled
- Violet Onsongo
Institutions
- Brigham Young University (US)
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center (NL)
- Plant & Food Research (NZ)
- University of Cape Coast (GH)
- American Museum of Natural History (US)
- Baruch College (US)
- University of Auckland (NZ)
- University of Alabama (US)
- Zoological Institute (RU)
- National University of Patagonia San Juan Bosco (AR)
- University of Florida (US)
- Universidad de Antioquia (CO)
- Universität Greifswald (DE)
- Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (EG)
- Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro (BR)
- Instituto de Ecología (MX)
- Florida State Collection of Arthropods (US)
- National University of Avellaneda (AR)
- Museo de Historia Natural
- Universidade Federal do Pará (BR)
- Universidade de Vigo (ES)
- Virginia Tech (US)
- Stanford University (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Insect Systematics and Diversity
- Published
- 2025-07-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1093/isd/ixaf013
- Primary Topic
- Fossil Insects in Amber
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Science Foundation