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Phylogeny, classification and taxonomy of European dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata): a review

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Abstract

Although Europe is the cradle of dragonfly systematics and despite great progress in the last 2 decades, many issues in naming its species and understanding their evolutionary history remain unresolved. Given the public interest, conservation importance and scientific relevance of Odonata, it is time that remaining questions on the species’ status, names and affinities are settled. We review the extensive but fragmentary literature on the phylogeny, classification and taxonomy of European Odonata, providing summary phylogenies for well-studied groups and an ecological, biogeographic and evolutionary context where possible. Priorities for further taxonomic, phylogenetic and biogeographic research are listed and discussed. We predict that within a decade the phylogeny of all European species will be known.

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Acknowledgments

The manuscript benefitted strongly from information and comments provided by Sónia Ferreira, Matti Hämäläinen, Erik Pilgrim, Frank Stokvis, Haomiao Zhang and two anonymous referees.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Netherlands Centre for Biodiversity Naturalis, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands

    K.-D. B. Dijkstra

  2. European Invertebrate Survey Nederland, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands

    V. J. Kalkman

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  1. K.-D. B. Dijkstra
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  2. V. J. Kalkman
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Correspondence to K.-D. B. Dijkstra.

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This is a contribution to the Festschrift for Michael L. May.

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Dijkstra, KD.B., Kalkman, V.J. Phylogeny, classification and taxonomy of European dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata): a review. Org Divers Evol 12, 209–227 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13127-012-0080-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13127-012-0080-8

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