The systematics of clubtail dragonflies (family Gomphidae)

The clubtails/club-tailed dragonflies (Gomphidae) represent the second largest group within the suborder Anisoptera of Odonata and are notably diverse, encompassing approximately 90 genera and ~1,006 species. Gomphid dragonflies are easily recognizable by their medium to large body size; they are distinguished within the Anisoptera suborder by their widely separated eyes. They play a crucial role as top predators in aquatic ecosystems (such as ponds and bogs), helping to maintain trophic and ecological balance while serving as indicators of environmental health. However, despite the ecological significance and widespread distribution of gomphids, their phylogenetic relationships remain inadequately resolved, with gaps in molecular data, geographical underrepresentation, limitations in the fossil record, and methodological variabilities persisting as critical areas where resolution is lacking in the Gomphidae tree of life. While the monophyly of Gomphidae is well-supported, few genera within the family have been confirmed as monophyletic, and several groups remain unresolved. In this talk, I present a comprehensive molecular phylogenetic analysis of the dragonfly family Gomphidae using Anchored Hybrid Enrichment (AHE) data. This work has produced the most resolved and taxonomically comprehensive phylogeny of Gomphidae to date, clarifying relationships across major lineages.