Molecular Phylogeny of the Family Cordulegastridae (Odonata) Worldwide

In this study, we present the first attempt at a molecular phylogenetic analysis of the entire family of Cordulegastridae involving 60% of its known species. Our analysis is in favor of reclassification of the members of the family into four genera: (i) the monophyletic genus Selys, 1854, with the number of known species reduced by three synonymizations; (ii) the genus Leach in Brewster, 1815 including all members of the group and, as a preliminary solution, the American species Novelo-Gutiérrez, 2018 and, very tentatively, Selys, 1868. The group forms a genus of its own, for which we restored the name Selys 1854, stat. rev. McLachlan in Selys, 1886, currently considered as was placed by us in as well. The genus Cowley, 1934 needs further investigation involving all remaining species listed in it. The genus Kirby, 1890, stat. rev., was recovered to accommodate the remaining American species of . We synonymized three species of : Fraser, 1923 = Lohmann, 1993, syn. nov.; (Förster, 1899) = Lohmann, 1993, syn. nov.; (Förster, 1899) = Lohmann, 1993, syn. nov., based on examination of the existing type specimens. The type of specimens of Fraser, 1919 = Lohmann 1993 syn. confirm., were also examined, and their synonymy was confirmed. The isolated populations of (Selys, 1854) from the archipelagos of Okinawa and Amami Oshima in Japan, respectively, should be regarded as separate species, which will be described elsewhere. Furthermore, we suggest the synonymization of Selys 1873 syn. nov. with (Selys 1854) comb. restaur.