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Cordulegaster
Golden-ringed Spiketails, Goldenrings, Spiketails
Cordulegaster is a genus of large dragonflies in the family Cordulegastridae, commonly known as golden-ringed dragonflies or spiketails. The genus contains approximately 30 described species distributed across North America, Europe, and Asia. Members are characterized by their distinctive yellow or golden ring markings on the abdomen and, in females, prominent spikelike ovipositors used for inserting eggs into stream substrates. Several species are habitat specialists associated with forested streams and are of conservation concern, including C. heros, which is protected under the EU Habitats Directive.
dragonfly spiketail golden-ringed stream-habitat forest-specialist conservation-concern cave-adapted EU-Habitats-Directive
Cordulegaster bilineata
brown spiketail
Cordulegaster bilineata, commonly known as the brown spiketail, is a dragonfly species in the family Cordulegastridae. It occurs in North America and is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN with a stable population. The species was described by Carle in 1983. Like other spiketails, females possess a prominent ovipositor that gives the group its common name.
dragonfly spiketail Odonata North-America Least-Concern
Cordulegaster diadema
Apache spiketail
Cordulegaster diadema, commonly known as the Apache spiketail, is a dragonfly species in the family Cordulegastridae. Adults typically measure 74–88 millimeters in length. The species ranges from the southwestern United States through Mexico to Costa Rica. Females possess a prominent ovipositor that gives the species its common name 'spiketail'.
dragonfly spiketail Odonata North-America Central-America Cordulegastridae
Cordulegaster dorsalis
Pacific spiketail
Cordulegaster dorsalis, commonly known as the Pacific spiketail, is a dragonfly species in the family Cordulegastridae. Larvae inhabit intermittent headwater streams and typically require three years to reach maturity, emerging as adults during July and August. The species shows evidence of sediment microhabitat partitioning, with smaller larval instars associated with finer-grained organic sediments.
dragonfly Odonata Cordulegastridae spiketail intermittent-streams western-North-America larval-development sediment-microhabitat
Cordulegaster erronea
tiger spiketail
Cordulegaster erronea, the tiger spiketail, is a large, uncommon dragonfly in the family Cordulegastridae. It is a habitat specialist requiring small, pristine, spring-fed forest streams with muck bottoms and overhanging vegetation. The species has a long larval period estimated at 3-4 years and a brief adult flight period of approximately 2-3 weeks in early summer. Radio-telemetry studies in New Jersey have revealed limited adult movement, with individuals typically remaining within 100-200 meters of natal streams and showing strong site fidelity.
dragonfly spiketail habitat-specialist forest-stream radio-telemetry conservation New-Jersey Cordulegastridae Odonata indicator-species headwater-streams metapopulation territorial-behavior crepuscular-activity long-larval-development site-fidelity mature-forest-dependent spring-fed-streams muck-bottom-streams overhanging-vegetation shaded-streams limited-dispersal fragmented-populations pristine-habitat aquatic-nymph ovipositor early-summer-emergence brief-adult-life canopy-use easily-disturbed human-disturbance-sensitive top-predator stream-ecosystem conservation-concern IUCN-Least-Concern stable-population eastern-North-America patchy-distribution localized-populations territorial-males patrolling-behavior oviposition-in-organic-matter specialized-habitat-requirements forest-protection-needed regulatory-protection-insufficient aquatic-insect odonate Anisoptera Cordulegastroidea Selys-1878 tiger-spiketail uncommon-species rare-encounters field-identification-challenge habitat-degradation-threat forest-fragmentation-impact water-quality-dependent perennial-streams seepage-fed-streams adjacent-forest-use movement-ecology home-range-limited natal-stream-fidelity conservation-recommendations mature-forest-buffer stream-corridor-protection headwater-conservation forest-stream-specialist ecosystem-engineer biodiversity-indicator climate-change-vulnerability habitat-loss-sensitivity development-pressure protected-areas-benefit citizen-science-potential natural-history-knowledge-gap research-priority-species monitoring-target population-stability least-concern-status no-immediate-threat stable-IUCN-assessment North-American-endemic eastern-range New-Jersey-study-site detailed-life-history-known radiotelemetry-pioneer-study first-radio-telemetry-for-species movement-study habitat-use-study home-range-estimation conservation-biology-case-study forest-management-implications buffer-zone-requirements stream-protection-needs beyond-stream-corridor-protection 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Cordulegaster sayi
Say's spiketail
Cordulegaster sayi, commonly known as Say's spiketail, is a dragonfly species in the family Cordulegastridae. It is endemic to the United States. The species belongs to a genus characterized by prominent spikelike ovipositors in females, a trait referenced in the common name 'spiketail.'
dragonfly spiketail endemic United-States Odonata Cordulegastridae Cordulegaster

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