Corduliidae facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Corduliidae
Somatochlora viridiaenea (male)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Odonata
Infraorder:	Anisoptera
Family:	Corduliidae
Subfamilies
Cordulephyinae Corduliinae Idomacromiinae Neophyinae

The Corduliidae are a family of dragonflies. They are often called emeralds, emerald dragonflies, or green-eyed skimmers. These names come from their bright, often metallic green eyes.

Most emerald dragonflies are dark, either black or brown. They also have shiny areas of metallic green or yellow on their bodies. Their young, called larvae, live in water. These larvae are black and look a bit hairy. They often live in shallow, watery places.

This family includes many types of dragonflies. Some are known as "baskettails" or "sundragons". Others are called "shadowdragons" and "boghaunters". You can find emerald dragonflies almost everywhere in the world. While the family is common, some specific types are quite rare. For example, the Hine's emerald dragonfly (Somatochlora hineana) is an endangered species in the United States. This means it is in danger of disappearing forever.

Types of Emerald Dragonflies

The Corduliidae family has many different groups, called genera. Here are some of them:

• Aeschnosoma
• Antipodochlora – Also known as the Dusk dragonfly.
• Cordulia – These are sometimes called American emeralds.
• Corduliochlora
• Cordulisantosia
• Dorocordulia – These are known as little emeralds.
• Epitheca – Often called baskettails.
• Guadalca
• Helocordulia – These are known as sundragons.
• Hemicordulia - Another group of emeralds.
• Heteronaias
• Libellulosoma
• Metaphya – More emeralds.
• Navicordulia
• Neurocordulia – These are called shadowdragons.
• Paracordulia
• Pentathemis – This includes the metallic tigerhawk.
• Procordulia – Yet another group of emeralds.
• Rialla
• Schizocordulia
• Somatochlora – These are known as striped emeralds.
• Williamsonia – These are called boghaunters.