Arthropods • Earth.com

Syrian demoiselle

(Calopteryx syriaca)

galery

Description

Calopteryx syriaca is a species of damselfly in the family Calopterygidae known commonly as the Syrian demoiselle. It is native to the southern Levant, where it is known from Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria. This is sometimes considered to be a subspecies of the banded demoiselle (C. splendens). This damselfly inhabits habitat along rivers such as the Orontes, Litani, and Jordan. Its populations have declined due to loss of habitat in the river systems in the area. Calopteryx is a genus of large damselflies belonging to the family Calopterygidae. The colourful males often have coloured wings whereas the more muted females usually have clear wings although some develop male (androchrome) wing characteristics. In both sexes, there is no pterostigma. It was only in 1890, many years after Leach named the genus Calopyteryx, that it was widely recognized that Leach's name was a junior synonym of the Fabrician genus Agrion, established 40 years prior. The controversy surrounding which genus name has nomenclatural priority has never been formally resolved; the ICZN mandates that Fabricius' name has priority, but the majority of the world's odonate researchers maintain the use of Calopteryx.

Taxonomic tree:

Domain:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum:
Class: Insecta
Order:Odonata
Family:Calopterygidae
Genus:Calopteryx
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