List of Odonata species of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a tropical island situated close to the southern tip of India. The invertebrate fauna is as large as it is common to other regions of the world. There are approximately 2 million known species of arthropods, and this number continues to grow. Thus, it is difficult to determine the exact number of Odonata species within particular regions. The following is a list of the dragonflies and damselflies of Sri Lanka.

Dragonflies & Damselflies

Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata. Dragonflies are predators. The larvae inhabit water and adults fly near aquatic places. They are diverse in color and shape. There are major 2 types of odonates in the world; they are dragonflies and damselflies. The eyes are closer together in dragonflies, and their wings are held broadly opened from the body. They are robust in nature. In contrast, damselflies are delicately built small odonates, with well separated compound eyes. During rest, they do not expand their wings; the wings are folded over the abdomen or slightly spread. Damselflies are categorized in to Suborder: Zygoptera; and dragonflies into Suborder: Anisoptera. 131 described species within 13 families can be found in Sri Lanka, with three new species in 2016. The 65 endemic species and marked with an asterisk (*).

Suborder: Zygoptera - Damselflies

Damselflies are insect s of suborder Zygoptera in the order Odonata. They are similar to dragonflies, which constitute the other odonatan suborder, Anisoptera, but are smaller, have slimmer bodies, and most species fold the wings along the body when at rest. An ancient group, damselflies have existed since at least the Lower Permian, and are found on every continent except Antarctica. All damselflies are predatory; both nymphs and adults eat other insects. The nymphs are aquatic, with different species living in a variety of freshwater habitats including acid bogs, ponds, lakes and rivers. The nymphs moult repeatedly, at the last moult climbing out of the water to undergo metamorphosis. The skin splits down the back, they emerge and inflate their wings and abdomen to gain their adult form. Their presence on a body of water indicates that it is relatively unpolluted, but their dependence on freshwater makes them vulnerable to damage to their wetland habitats. 64 Damselfly species can be found in Sri Lanka.

Family: Calopterygidae - Jewelwings

Common name	Binomial	Local subspecies	Male	Female
Stream glory	Neurobasis chinensis	ssp.chinensis	File:Neurobasis chinensis-Thattekad-2015-09-13-001.jpg	File:Neurobasis chinensis-Aralam-2016-10-29-003.jpg
Black-tipped forest glory	Vestalis apicalis	ssp.nigrescens*	File:Black Tipped Forest Glory (Vestalis apicalis) male. (44158153825).jpg	File:Black Tipped Forest Glory (Vestalis apicalis)female., ചുട്ടിച്ചിറകന്‍ തണല്‍ത്തുമ്പി. (40686293970).jpg

Family: Chlorocyphidae - Jewels

Common name	Binomial	Local subspecies	Male	Female
Adam's gem	Libellago adami*
Ultima gem	Libellago finalis*
Green's gem	Libellago greeni*		File:Libellago greeni male.JPG	File:Libellago greeni female.JPG
Corbett's gem	Libellago corbeti*

Family: Euphaeidae - Gossamerwings

Common name	Binomial	Local subspecies	Male	Female
Shining gossamerwing	Euphaea splendens*

Family: Lestidae - Spreadwings

Common name	Binomial	Local subspecies	Male	Female
Sri Lanka reedling	Indolestes divisus*
Mountain reedling	Indolestes gracilis	ssp.gracilis*	File:Davidraju IMG 9734.jpg	File:Indolestes gracilis - female.jpg
Emerald spreadwing	Lestes elatus		File:Lestes elatus-Kadavoor-2016-07-04-004.jpg	File:Lestes elatus-Madayippara.jpg
Malabar spreadwing	Lestes malabaricus		File:Lestes malabaricus Fraser (cropped).jpg
Scalloped spreadwing	Lestes praemorsus	ssp.decipiens	File:Lestes praemorsus male.jpg
Emerald Sri Lanka spreadwing	Sinhalestes orientalis*

Family: Coenagrionidae - Narrow-winged damselflies

Common name	Binomial	Local subspecies	Male	Female
Green striped slender dartlet	Aciagrion occidentale		File:Aciagrion occidentale 2 at Kadavoor.jpg	File:Aciagrion occidentale-Kadavoor-2017-05-08-002.jpg
Variable wisp	Agriocnemis femina	ssp.femina	File:Variable wisp (Agriocnemis femina).jpg
Pygmy wisp	Agriocnemis pygmaea		File:Agriocnemis pygmaea male, Burdwan, West Bengal, India 14 03 2012.jpg	File:Agriocnemis pygmaea female, Burdwan, West Bengal, India 11 10 2012.jpg
Azure dartlet	Amphiallagma parvum		File:Amphiallagma parvum by Davidraju IMG 9994.jpg	File:Azure Dartlet ( Amphiallagma parvum) Female.jpg
Lieftinck's sprite	Archibasis lieftincki*		File:Archibasis lieftincki.jpg
Long-banded bluetail	Archibasis oscillans	ssp. hanwellanensis*	File:Archibasis oscillans-Kadavoor-2016-07-03-001.jpg	File:Archibasis oscillans female (22617529972).jpg
Orange-tailed marsh dart	Ceriagrion cerinorubellum		File:Orange-tailed marsh dart 08030.jpg	File:Davidraju IMG 7768.jpg
Coromandel marsh dart	Ceriagrion coromandelianum		File:Ceriagrion coromandelianum male, Burdwan, West Bengal, India 09 07 2013.jpg	File:Ceriagrion coromandelianum, Burdwan, West Bengal, India 23 09 2012 (1).JPG
Golden dartlet	Ischnura aurora	ssp.aurora	File:Ischnura aurora01.jpg
Marsh bluetail	Ischnura senegalensis		File:Ischnura senegalensis(Male , Japan , 2018.09.02).jpg	File:Ischnura senegalensis(Female,Japan,2018.10.08).jpg
Sri Lanka midget	Mortonagrion ceylonicum*
Three striped blue dart	Pseudagrion decorum		File:Pseudagrion decorum-Thekkady-2016-12-02-001.jpg	File:Pseudagrion decorum female by Manoj V Nair.jpg
Malabar sprite	Pseudagrion malabaricum		File:Pseudagrion malabaricum male.jpg	File:Pseudagrion malabaricum Female.jpg
Blue riverdamsel	Pseudagrion microcephalum		File:Pseudagrion microcephalum - male chry.jpg	File:Pseudagrion microcephalum by Sunny Joseph.jpg
Saffron-faced blue dart	Pseudagrion rubriceps	ssp.ceylonicum*	File:Pseudagrion rubriceps male-Kadavoor-2015-08-20-001.jpg	File:Saffron-faced Blue Dart (Pseudagrion rubriceps)- Female W IMG 3613.jpg

Family: Platycnemididae - Threadtails

Common name	Binomial	Local subspecies	Male	Female
Two-spotted threadtail	Elattoneura oculata*
Jungle threadtail	Elattoneura caesia*		File:Elattoneura caesia 33483441.jpg
Dark-glittering threadtail	Elattoneura centralis*
Smoky-winged threadtail	Elattoneura leucostigma*
Red-striped threadtail	Elattoneura tenax*
Stripe-headed threadtail	Prodasineura sita*
Marsh dancer	Onychargia atrocyana		File:Onychargia atrocyana - Davidraju IMG 3023.jpg	File:Onychargia atrocyana, Burdwan, West Bengal, India 13 09 2012.jpg
Yellow bush dart	Copera marginipes		File:Copera marginipes-Kadavoor-2016-11-11-001.jpg	File:Copera marginipes-Kadavoor-2016-11-11-003.jpg

Family: Platystictidae - Shadowdamsels

Common name	Binomial	Local subspecies	Male	Female
Alwis's shadowdamsel	Ceylonosticta alwisi*
Ana Mia's shadowdamsel	Ceylonosticta anamia*
Bine's shadowdamsel	Ceylonosticta bine*
	Ceylonosticta mirifica*
	Ceylonosticta mojca*
Alwisi's shadowdamsel	Ceylonosticta nancyae*
Rupasinghe's shadowdamsel	Ceylonosticta rupasinghe*
	Ceylonosticta venusta*
	Drepanosticta adami*
	Drepanosticta austeni*
Brinck's shadowdamsel	Drepanosticta brincki*
Nobel shadowdamsel	Drepanosticta digna*
Merry shadowdamsel	Drepanosticta hilaris*
Drooping shadowdamsel	Drepanosticta lankanensis*
Dark knob-tipped shadowdamsel	Drepanosticta montana*
Nietner's shadowdamsel	Drepanosticta nietneri*
Bordered knob-tipped shadowdamsel	Drepanosticta submontana*
Blue-shouldered cornuted shadowdamsel	Drepanosticta subtropica*
Dark-shouldered cornuted shadowdamsel	Drepanosticta tropica*
Wall's shadowdamsel	Drepanosticta walli*
Dark forestwraith	Platysticta apicalis*
Blurry forestdamsel	Platysticta maculata*
	Platysticta secreta*
	Platysticta serendibica*

Suborder: Anisoptera - Dragonflies.

A dragonfly is an insect belonging to the order Odonata, suborder Anisoptera (from Greek ἄνισος anisos "uneven" and πτερόν pteron, "wing", because the hindwing is broader than the forewing). Adult dragonflies are characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong transparent wings, sometimes with coloured patches and an elongated body. Dragonflies can be mistaken for the related group, damselflies (Zygoptera), which are similar in structure, though usually lighter in build; however, the wings of most dragonflies are held flat and away from the body, while damselflies hold the wings folded at rest, along or above the abdomen. Dragonflies are agile fliers, while damselflies have a weaker, fluttery flight. Many dragonflies have brilliant iridescent or metallic colours produced by structural coloration, making them conspicuous in flight. An adult dragonfly eye has nearly 24,000 ommatidia. Dragonflies are predators, both in their aquatic larval stage, when they are known as nymphs or naiads, and as adults. Several years of their lives are spent as nymphs living in fresh water; the adults may be on the wing for just a few days or weeks. They are fast, agile fliers, sometimes migrating across oceans, and are often found near water. There are 65 Dragonfly species can be found in Sri Lanka.

Family: Aeshnidae - Hawkers

Common name	Binomial	Local subspecies	Male	Female
Donald's Hawker	Anaciaeschna donaldi		File:Anaciaeschna martini.jpg
Pale-spotted emperor	Anax guttatus		File:Anax guttatus by Nagabhushan Jyothi.jpg	File:Anax guttatus female (13389411724).jpg
Magnificent emperor	Anax immaculifrons		File:Anax immaculifrons Blue Darner from Valparai IMG 8478 a.jpg	File:Anax immaculifrons by Bala Chandran.jpg
Lesser green emperor	Anax indicus		File:Anax indicus by Arun V.jpg	File:Anax indicus 5231.jpg
Black emperor	Anax tristis		File:Anax tristis 002176-1b.jpg
Vagrant emperor	Anax ephippiger		File:Hemianax ephippiger.jpg
Brown darner	Gynacantha dravida		File:Gynacantha-Kadavoor-2016-07-25-001.jpg	File:Gynacantha-Kadavoor-2016-07-11-001.jpg
	Gynacantha millardi		File:Gynacantha millardi - Kadavoor - 001.jpg	File:Gynacantha bayadera.jpg

Family: Gomphidae - Club-tail dragonflies

Common name	Binomial	Local subspecies	Male	Female
	Anisogomphus ceylonensis*
Sinuate clubtail	Burmagomphus pyramidalis	ssp.sinuatus*
	Cyclogomphus gynostylus*
Rivulet tiger	Gomphidia pearsoni*
Lyrate grappletail	Heliogomphus lyratus*		File:Heliogomphus lyratus 46804589.jpg
Nietner's grappletail	Heliogomphus nietneri*
Wall's grappletail	Heliogomphus walli*
Indian Common Clubtail	Ictinogomphus rapax		File:Indian common clubtail (Ictinogomphus rapax) male 3.jpg	File:Ictinogomphus rapax (cropped).jpg
Keiser's forktail	Macrogomphus annulatus*	ssp.keiseri*
Sri Lankan Forktail	Macrogomphus lankanensis*		File:Sri Lanka Forktail Macrogomphus lankanensis.jpg
	Microgomphus wijaya*
Sri Lanka sabretail	Megalogomphus ceylonicus*
Brook hooktail	Paragomphus henryi*
	Paragomphus campestris*

Family: Macromiidae - Cruisers

Common name	Binomial	Local subspecies	Male	Female
Common torrent hawk	Epophthalmia vittata	ssp.cyanocephala*	File:Epophthalmia vittata 3 by Suraj Naik.jpg	File:Epophthalmia vittata (Common Torrent Hawk) female dorsal view.jpg
	Macromia flinti*
Sri Lanka cruiser	Macromia zeylanica*

Family: Libellulidae - Skimmers

Common name	Binomial	Local subspecies	Male	Female
Asian pintail	Acisoma panorpoides	ssp.panorpoides	File:Acisoma panorpoides-Kadavoor-2016-09-07-001.jpg	File:Acisoma panorpoides-Kadavoor-2016-09-08-001.jpg
Scarlet marsh hawk	Aethriamanta brevipennis	ssp.brevipennis	File:Scarlet marsh hawk (Aethriamanta brevipennis) male.jpg	File:Aethriamanta brevipennis 7678.jpg
Little Blue marsh hawk	Brachydiplax sobrina		File:Brachydiplax sobrina-Kadavoor-2016-06-27-005.jpg	File:Little blue marsh hawk (Brachydiplax sobrina) female.jpg
Ditch jewel	Brachythemis contaminata		File:Brachythemis contaminata-male.jpg	File:Brachythemis contaminata-female.jpg
Granite ghost	Bradinopyga geminata		File:Bradinopyga geminata at Kadavoor.jpg	File:Bradinopyga geminata 6562.jpg
Scarlet skimmer	Crocothemis servilia	ssp.servilia	File:Crocothemis servilia male by kadavoor.jpg	File:Crocothemis servilia female by kadavoor.jpg
Line forest-skimmer	Cratilla lineata	ssp.calverti	File:Cratilla lineata male 2 by kadavoor.jpg	File:Cratilla lineata female by kadavoor.jpg
Black-tipped percher	Diplacodes nebulosa		File:Black Tipped Ground Skimmer (Diplacodes Nebulosa) male.jpg	File:Black tipped ground skimmer female (36857328406).jpg
Chalky percher	Diplacodes trivialis		File:Diplacodes trivialis 05609.JPG	File:Diplacodes trivialis, Burdwan, West Bengal, India 13 09 2012 5.jpg
Amber-winged marsh glider	Hydrobasileus croceus		File:Hydrobasileus croceus 00379.JPG	File:Amber-winged Marsh Glider (Hydrobasileus croceus) female.,പാണ്ടൻ പരുന്തൻ. (43412314945).jpg
Fruhstorfer's junglewatcher	Hylaeothemis fruhstorferi	ssp.fruhstorferi*
Black marsh skimmer	Indothemis carnatica		File:Light-tipped demon (Indothemis carnatica) male Kanha.jpg	File:Indothemis carnatica female by kadavoor.jpg
Restless demon	Indothemis limbata	ssp.sita	File:Indothemis limbata (cropped).jpg
Asiatic blood tail	Lathrecista asiatica	ssp.asiatica	File:Lathrecista asiatica 07056.JPG	File:Lathrecista asiatica in Kerala.jpg
	Lyriothemis defonsekai*		File:Lyriothemis defonsekai.jpg
Coastal glider	Macrodiplax cora		File:Macrodiplax cora 4160.jpg	File:Macrodiplax cora (5).jpg
Paddyfield parasol	Neurothemis intermedia	ssp.intermedia	File:Neurothemis intermedia 05455.jpg	File:Paddyfield parasol (Neurothemis intermedia) female Kanha.jpg
Pied paddy skimmer	Neurothemis tullia		File:Neurothemis tullia Male07798.jpg	File:Pied paddy skimmer (Neurothemis tullia) female.jpg
Aggressive riverhawk	Onychothemis tonkinensis	ssp.ceylanica
Spine-tufted skimmer	Orthetrum chrysis		File:Brown-backed Red Marsh Hawk Orthetrum chrysis Male 2 by Kadavoor.jpg	File:Brown-backed red marsh hawk (Orthetrum chrysis) female Bardiya.jpg
Blue marsh hawk	Orthetrum glaucum		File:Orthetrum glaucum-Silent Valley-2016-08-14-002.jpg	File:Orthetrum glaucum-Silent Valley-2016-08-14-003.jpg
Marsh skimmer	Orthetrum luzonicum		File:Orthetrum luzonicum-Kadavoor-2016-09-08-001.jpg	File:Orthetrum luzonicum female in Kadavoor.jpg
Crimson-tailed marsh hawk	Orthetrum pruinosum	ssp.neglectum	File:Crimson-tailed marsh hawk (Orthetrum pruinosum neglectum) male Nepal.jpg	File:Orthetrum pruinosum female by kadavoor.jpg
Slender skimmer	Orthetrum sabina	ssp.sabina	File:Green Marsh Hawk (Orthetrum sabina), Burdwan, West Bengal, India 22 09 2012.JPG	File:Green marsh hawk (Orthetrum sabina) female Nepalgunj.jpg
Blue-tailed forest hawk	Orthetrum triangulare	ssp.triangulare	File:Dragon Fly (Orthetrum triangulare) (7976467260).jpg	File:Orthetrum triangulare by Rohit George.jpg
Globe skimmer	Pantala flavescens		File:Davidraju IMG 5948.jpg	File:Pantala flavescens at Kadavoor.jpg
Yellow-tailed ashy skimmer	Potamarcha congener		File:Yellow-tailed Ashy Skimmer Potamarcha congener Male by kadavoor.jpg	File:Yellow-tailed Ashy Skimmer Potamarcha congener juvenile male by kadavoor.jpg
Spine–legged redbolt	Rhodothemis rufa		File:Rufous Marsh Glider Rhodothemis rufa Male.jpg	File:Rhodothemis rufa female by kadavoor.jpg
Sapphire flutterer	Rhyothemis triangularis		File:Rhyothemis triangularis-5822.jpg
Common picture wing	Rhyothemis variegata	ssp.variegata	File:Rhyothemis variegata - Davidraju IMG 4761.jpg	File:Rhyothemis variegata female at Kadavoor.jpg
Red-veined darter	Sympetrum fonscolombii		File:Darter August 2007-20.jpg	File:Darter August 2007-22 edit.jpg
Elf	Tetrathemis yerburii*		File:Tetrathemis yerburii.jpg
Coral-tailed cloudwing	Tholymis tillarga		File:Tholymis tillarga male by kadavoor 02.jpg	File:Twister (Tholymis tillarga) female (16771052901).jpg
Crimson marsh glider	Trithemis aurora		File:Trithemis aurora male 2 by kadavoor.jpg	File:Crimson marsh glider, female @ Thrippunithura 01.jpg
Black stream glider	Trithemis festiva		File:Black Stream Glider (Trithemis festiva)male (42030969054).jpg	File:Black stream glider (Trithemis festiva) female. കാർത്തുമ്പി. (36741083730).jpg
Dancing dropwing	Trithemis pallidinervis		File:Long-legged marsh glider (Trithemis pallidinervis) male Rajasthan.jpg	File:LongLeggedMarshGlider 0915.JPG
Keyhole glider	Tramea basilaris	ssp.burmeisteri	File:Tramea basilaris,Red Marsh Trotter.jpg	File:Keyhole Glider (Tramea basilaris) (11857165716).jpg
Black marsh trotter	Tramea limbata		File:Ferruginous glider (Tramea limbata) male 2.jpg	File:Tramea limbata by Anubhav Agarwal.jpg
Greater crimson glider	Urothemis signata	ssp.signata	File:Greater Crimson Glider Urothemis signata Male by Kadavoor.jpg	File:Greater Crimson Glider Urothemis signata Female by Kadavoor.jpg
Emerald cascader	Zygonyx iris	ssp.ceylonicum	File:Zygonyx iris-Thattekad-2015-09-12-001.jpg
Long-tailed duskdarter	Zyxomma petiolatum		File:Brown Dusk Hawk (Zyxomma petiolatum) (25368467958).jpg	File:Zyxomma petiolatum by David Raju.jpg

See also

• List of Odonata species of Britain
• List of Odonata species of Ireland
• List of Odonata species of India
• List of Odonata species of South Africa
• List of Odonata species of Taiwan

References

• Sumanapala, A. P. (2017). A Field Guide to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Sri Lanka. Ceylon Tea Services Pvt. Ltd.
• https://web.archive.org/web/20140725183434/http://www.srilankaninsects.net/Dragonflies/Dragonflies.htm
• http://journals.sjp.ac.lk/index.php/JTFE/article/view/593
• https://web.archive.org/web/20140728134407/http://www.odonatologica.com/Web/abstracts/pdf/42-3.pdf