Calopterygoidea is a superfamily of damselflies comprising the families Calopterygidae and Chlorocyphidae. Members are widely distributed, occurring on every continent except Antarctica.
The superfamily was formerly much broader, but recent phylogenetic studies led to the redistribution of most constituent families into several separate superfamilies.
Taxonomic history Historically, Calopterygoidea served as a broad assemblage for many damselfly families that did not belong to the superfamilies Lestoidea, Platystictoidea or Coenagrionoidea.
Molecular phylogenetic and phylogenomic studies during the early 21st century demonstrated that this traditional concept of Calopterygoidea comprised several unrelated evolutionary lineages rather than a single monophyletic group.
In 2021, phylogenomic analyses by Bybee and colleagues resulted in the recognition of several new families and the reinstatement of others that had previously been included within broader concepts of Amphipterygidae and Megapodagrionidae.
Building on these results, in 2026 Carter and colleagues recognised the separate superfamilies Amphipterygoidea, Euphaeoidea, Megapodagrionoidea, Mesopodagrionoidea and Polythoroidea, restricting Calopterygoidea to the families Calopterygidae and Chlorocyphidae.
Phylogeny
Relationships among living damselfly superfamilies, based on Carter et al. (2026).
Families Calopterygoidea comprises two families: Calopterygidae Selys, 1850 Chlorocyphidae Cowley, 1937
Former constituent families Historically, Calopterygoidea also included: Amphipterygidae Devadattidae Diphlebiidae Euphaeidae Heteragrionidae Hypolestidae Lestoideidae Megapodagrionidae Mesagrionidae Mesopodagrionidae Philogeniidae Polythoridae Pseudolestidae Rhipidolestidae Thaumatoneuridae
Fossil record Fossils attributed to Calopterygoidea are known from the early Eocene onward, with records from Europe, Asia and North America. Most fossils have been assigned to living families, Calopterygidae and Chlorocyphidae, although several extinct genera are also recognised.
Fossil genera The following fossil genera are currently assigned to Calopterygoidea: †Guangxicalopteryx †Sinocalopteryx †Epallagites †Protothore
Etymology The superfamily name Calopterygoidea is derived from the type genus Calopteryx and the zoological suffix -oidea, used for superfamilies.
The genus name Calopteryx is presumably derived from the Greek καλός (kalos, "beautiful") and πτέρυξ (pteryx, "wing"), likely referring to the broad and often brightly coloured wings of these damselflies.
References Córdoba-Aguilar, Alejandro, and Adolfo Cordero-Rivera. “Evolution and Ecology of Calopterygidae (Zygoptera: Odonata): Status of Knowledge and Research Perspectives.” Neotropical Entomology, vol. 34, no. 6, Dec. 2005, pp. 861–879. https://doi.org/10.1590/s1519-566x2005000600001.