Apocordulia

Apocordulia is a genus of dragonflies in the family Austrocorduliidae, endemic to south-eastern Australia.^[3][4] It is monotypic, containing a single species, Apocordulia macrops.^[5]

Nighthawk
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Odonata
Suborder:	Anisoptera
Family:	Austrocorduliidae
Genus:	Apocordulia Watson, 1980[2]
Species:	A. macrops
Binomial name
Apocordulia macrops Watson, 1980[2]
Distribution of Apocordulia macrops in inland south-eastern Australia, mainly within the Murray–Darling Basin

Apocordulia macrops, commonly known as the nighthawk, is a medium-sized, dull-coloured dragonfly with large eyes. It inhabits inland rivers within the Murray–Darling Basin and is crepuscular, being most active at dawn and dusk.^[6][7]

Etymology

The word Apocordulia is derived from two words: apo from the Greek ἀπό meaning from or away, and Cordulia the genus of dragonfly. Tony Watson described the dragonfly genus Apocordulia as appearing different to the normal appearance of a Cordulia dragonfly.^[2][8]

The species name macrops is derived from two Greek words makros (μακρός) meaning long, and ops (ὤψ) meaning eye, describing the long eye seam.^[2][8]

Gallery

• 
  Female Apocordulia macrops wings
• 
  Male Apocordulia macrops wings

Taxonomy

In earlier higher-level classifications, the placement of Apocordulia was uncertain and it was considered incertae sedis within the superfamily Libelluloidea.^[9]

A comprehensive phylogenetic revision of emerald and tigertail dragonflies by Goodman et al. (2025) reinstated the family Austrocorduliidae (stat. rev.) and showed that Apocordulia belongs within that family.^[3] This replaces earlier treatments that placed Apocordulia variously in Corduliidae or Synthemistidae.^[6]

See also

• List of Odonata species of Australia