Petaltail
Guides
Tachopteryx
gray petaltail, Thorey's grayback
Tachopteryx is a monotypic genus of dragonflies in the family Petaluridae, containing only Tachopteryx thoreyi. This species is notable for having a non-burrowing larval stage, unlike most other petalurids. Adults are medium-sized dragonflies with distinctive gray and black coloration.
Tanypteryx
Dark Petaltails, Black Petaltail (for T. hageni)
Tanypteryx is a small genus of petaltail dragonflies containing two species: T. hageni (black petaltail), found in the Pacific Northwest of North America, and T. pryeri, found in Japan. The genus represents an ancient lineage that diverged from its sister species approximately 70-73 million years ago, making it an evolutionary "living fossil." T. hageni is a habitat specialist with nymphs that occupy fen wetlands and dig burrows, an uncommon life history among dragonflies.