Cordulephya facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cordulephya
Cordulephya pygmaea
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Odonata
Infraorder:	Anisoptera
Family:	Cordulephyidae
Genus:	Cordulephya Selys, 1870

Cordulephya is a special group, or genus, of dragonflies. They are often called shutwings because of how they rest. Unlike most dragonflies, shutwings fold their wings above their bodies, much like damselflies do.

These unique dragonflies are found only in eastern Australia. This means they are endemic to that region, and you won't find them naturally anywhere else in the world! Shutwings are usually small, even tiny. They are often black or purplish-black with bright yellowish markings.

Meet the Shutwing Species

The Cordulephya group includes four known species. Each one has its own common name:

• Cordulephya bidens Sjöstedt, 1917 - This is the tropical shutwing.
• Cordulephya divergens Tillyard, 1917 - This species is known as the clubbed shutwing.
• Cordulephya montana Tillyard, 1911 - You might find this one called the mountain shutwing.
• Cordulephya pygmaea Selys, 1870 - This is the common shutwing.