Family SYNLESTIDAE
Malachites, Relics, Sylphs
Compiler and date details
September 2014 - ABRS
31 December 1999 - W.W.K. Houston, Australian Biological Resources Study, Canberra, ACT, Australia J.A.L. Watson, CSIRO Entomology, Canberra, ACT, Australia Updated (1999) by A.A. Calder, CSIRO Entomology, Canberra, ACT, Australia
Introduction
The family Synlestidae has often been referred to as the Chlorolestidae, a name based on that of the oldest genus included, but its correct name is Synlestidae (Theischinger & Watson 1985). It is a small family, including seven genera and 33 species (Davies 1981; Bridges 1994). The Australian and southern African genera, with more than 20 species, appear to be closely allied (Watson 1981); the remaining genera are primarily Asian. We recognise one subfamily in Australia: the Synlestinae (Episynlestes, Synlestes), in which the discoidal cells are normal and intercalary veins are present. The subfamily Chorismagrioninae is now regarded as a separate family (Bechly 1996). Theischinger & Watson (1985) have reviewed Episynlestes. Three species-group taxa of Synlestes (nigrescens, tillyardi, weyersii) are more closely interrelated than any is to the remaining species (Theischinger & Watson, unpublished data). The status of some populations of the weyersii complex is not well understood (cf. Theischinger & Watson 1979), but no undescribed species have been recognized. Fraser (1956) described the larvae of Episynlestes cristatus, the latter as Synlestes tropicus (Theischinger et al. 1993). Theischinger et al. (1993) provided a key to last instar larvae/exuviae of Australian Synlestidae and Hawking & Theischinger (19999) give an illustrated key to the larvae of the New South Wales species.
Previously recognised Chorismagrionidae are now combined with Synelistidae, following Bybee et al. (2008) and Theischinger and Endersby (2009).
Diagnosis
Adult: two antenodal crossveins; postnodal crossveins more or less aligned with crossveins behind them; discoidal cell with very acute distal angle; an oblique vein variably present, or absent, between R3 and IR3; origin of IR3 near or beyond nodus; supplementary intercalary longitudinal veins present or absent; CuP curving sharply forward from origin at tip of discoidal cell.
Larva: labium flat, of moderate length, lacking major setae, palps slightly broadened, end hook well developed, incurved, median lobe cleft, prominent; gills lamellate, short, rounded at tips, denodate, faces of lamellae held upright.
General References
Bechly, G. 1996. Morphologische Untersuchungen am Flügelgeäder der rezenten Libellen und deren Stammgruppenvertreter (Insecta; Pterygota; Odonata) unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Phylogenetischen Systematik und des Grundplanes der Odonata. Petalura, Special volume 2: 1-402
Bybee, S.M., Heath Ogden, T., Branham, M.A. & Whiting, M.F. 2008. Molecules, morphology and fossils: a comprehensive approach to odonate phylogeny and the evolution of the odonate wing. Cladistics 24: 477-514
Davies, D.A.L. 1981. A synopsis of the extant genera of the Odonata. Societas Internationalis Odonatologica, Rapid Communications 3: i-xiv 1-59
Fraser, F.C. 1956. The nymphs of Synlestes tropicus Tillyard, Chorismagrion risi Morton, Oristicta filicicola Tillyard and Lestoidea conjuncta Tillyard: with description of the female of the latter and further notes on the male. The Australian Zoologist 12: 284-292
Theischinger, G., Watson, J.A.L. & Rowe, R.J. 1993. Larvae of Australian Synlestidae (Odonata: Zygoptera). Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 32: 113-119
Theischinger, G. & Watson, J.A.L. 1979. Odonata from Carnarvon Gorge, Queensland. Australian Entomological Magazine 6: 25-28
Theischinger, G. & Watson, J.A.L. 1985. The genus Episynlestes Kennedy (Odonata: Synlestidae). Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 24(2): 143-148
Watson, J.A.L. 1981. Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies). pp. 1139-1167 in Keast, A. (ed.). Ecological Biogeography of Australia. The Hague : Junk Vol. 2.
Common Name References
History of changes
Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
10-May-2022 | ODONATA | 21-Mar-2022 | MODIFIED | |
19-Jul-2012 | 19-Jul-2012 | MODIFIED | ||
12-Feb-2010 | (import) |