Epitheca

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Epitheca
Common baskettail
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Infraorder: Anisoptera
Family: Corduliidae
Subfamily: Corduliinae
Genus: Epitheca
Burmeister, 1839
Type species
Libellula bimaculata

Epitheca is a genus of dragonflies in the family Corduliidae. They are commonly known as baskettails. Baskettails' distinction is the specially adapted, upturned abdomen tip of the females which allows them to carry their egg masses in a small, orange-tinted globule.[1]

Some authorities spin off the North American baskettails into two new genera, Epicordulia and Tetragoneuria, but this has not gained widespread acceptance and most references place them under this genus.[2]

Species[edit]

The genus contains the following species:[3]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ "Baskettails".
  2. ^ Garrison, Rosser W.; von Ellenrieder, Natalia; Louton, Jerry A. (2006). Dragonfly Genera of the New World. The Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 157. ISBN 0-8018-8446-2.
  3. ^ Martin Schorr; Martin Lindeboom; Dennis Paulson. "World Odonata List". University of Puget Sound. Retrieved 11 August 2010.

References[edit]