Petaluridae

Definition

A family of extant dragonflies (order Odonata) commonly called petaltails or graybacks, regarded as among the most ancient lineages of true dragonflies with fossil records extending to the Jurassic. A 2024 molecular phylogeny resolved the family into two clades: a Gondwanan clade and a Laurasian clade, with an estimated divergence of approximately 160 million years ago.

Etymology

Example

The family Petaluridae includes relict species such as the giant petaltail (Petalura gigantea) of Australia, whose larvae inhabit burrows in stream banks rather than typical aquatic habitats.

Synonyms

• petaltails
• graybacks

Related Terms

• Odonata
• Anisoptera
• Petalura
• Gondwanan distribution
• Laurasian distribution
• relict taxon

Usage Notes

Use of the vernacular names 'petaltails' and 'graybacks' varies regionally; 'petaltails' refers to the expanded, petal-like cerci of males in some species. The family is morphologically and ecologically distinct from other Anisoptera, with larvae that are semiterrestrial and fossorial.