Archaeophya is a small genus of dragonflies within the family Gomphomacromiidae.[2] Species of Archaeophya are large dragonflies with metallic-coloured bodies, dark with yellow spots, and clear wings. They occur along streams in eastern Australia.[3]
| Archaeophya | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Infraorder: | Anisoptera |
| Family: | Gomphomacromiidae |
| Genus: | Archaeophya Fraser, 1959[1] |
 | |
Species
editThe genus contains the following two species:[2]
- Archaeophya adamsi Fraser, 1959 – horned urfly
- Archaeophya magnifica Theischinger & Watson, 1978 – magnificent urfly
Taxonomic history
editArchaeophya has had a complicated taxonomic history. Although it has long been considered part of the superfamily Libelluloidea, the exact placement of Archaeophya was uncertain for many years, and it was often treated as incertae sedis by different authors.[4][5]
Molecular and morphological studies published in 2025 helped to clarify this situation. These studies showed that Archaeophya, known from Australia, as well as the genus Gomphomacromia, known from Chile, are closely related and form a distinct group within Libelluloidea, supporting their placement together in the family Gomphomacromiidae.[6]
This arrangement, including both genera in Gomphomacromiidae, is followed by the World Odonata List (2025).[2]
Etymology
editSee also
editReferences
edit- 1 2 Fraser, F.C. (1959). "New genera and species of Odonata from Australia in the Dobson Collection". The Australian Zoologist. 12: 352–361 [354] – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
- 1 2 3 Paulson, D.; Schorr, M.; Abbott, J.; Bota-Sierra, C.; Deliry, C.; Dijkstra, K.-D.; Lozano, F. "World Odonata List". OdonataCentral. University of Alabama.
- ↑ Theischinger, Günther; Hawking, John (2021). The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia (2nd ed.). Melbourne, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. p. 406. ISBN 9781486313747.
- ↑ Dijkstra, Klaas-Douwe B.; Bechly, Günter; Bybee, Seth M.; Dow, Rory A.; Dumont, Henri J.; Fleck, Günther; Garrison, Rosser W.; Hämäläinen, Matti; Kalkman, Vincent J.; Karube, Haruki; May, Michael L.; Orr, Albert G.; Paulson, Dennis R.; Rehn, Andrew C.; Theischinger, Günther (2013). "The classification and diversity of dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata). In: Zhang, Z.-Q. (Ed.) Animal Biodiversity: An Outline of Higher-level Classification and Survey of Taxonomic Richness (Addenda 2013)". Zootaxa. 3703 (1): 36–45. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3703.1.9. hdl:10072/61365. ISSN 1175-5334.
- ↑ "Genus Archaeophya Fraser, 1959". Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study. 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
- ↑ Goodman, Aaron; Abbott, John C.; Bybee, Seth M.; Ehlert, Juliana; Frandsen, Paul B.; Guralnick, Rob; Kalkman, Vincent J.; Newton, Lacie; Pinto, Ângelo Parise; Ware, Jessica L. (2025-10-09). "Systematic and taxonomic revision of emerald and tigertail dragonflies (Anisoptera: Synthemistidae and Corduliidae)". Systematic Entomology. doi:10.1111/syen.70000.
- ↑ Endersby, Ian; Fliedner, Heinrich (2015). The Naming of Australia's Dragonflies. Eltham, Victoria, Australia: Busybird Publishing. ISBN 9781925260625.
