Aeschnidiidae is an extinct family of dragonflies. Aeschnidiids were widespread and could be found on nearly every continent on Earth. They were most diverse during the Early Cretaceous before completely disappearing at the end of the Maastrichtian. Many members of this family were large dragonflies, with wing lengths ranging from 35 to 45 mm.
Genera Genera of Aeschnidiid dragonflyGeneric name Geographical locationAgeAegyptidiumG. Fleck and A. Nel. 2003. Revision of the Mesozoic family Aeschnidiidae (Odonata: Anisoptera). Zoologica 153:1-170Abu Ballas Formation, Egypt122-112 Ma, Early CretaceousAeschnidiellaUlyanovsk Oblast, Russia125-113 Ma, Early CretaceousAeschnidiopsisWalumbilla Formation, Australia125-113 Ma, Early CretaceousAeschnidiumLulworth Formation, England145-140 Ma, Early CretaceousAngloaeschnidiumLa Huérguina Formation, Spain, and the Weald Clay Formation, England130-125 Ma, Early CretaceousBergeriaeschnidiaSolnhofen Limestone, Germany151-145 Ma, Late JurassicBrunetaeschnidiumNusplingen Limestone, Germany and the Solnhofen Limestone, Germany156-145 Ma, Late JurassicBrunneaeschnidiaA. Nel and X. Martínez-Delclòs. 1993. Essai de Révision des Aeschnidioidea (Insecta, Odonata, Anisoptera). Cahiers de Paléontologie 1993:7-99Chijinbao Formation, China125-113 Ma, Early CretaceousCooperaeschnidiumWeald Clay Formation, England130-125.45 Ma, Early CretaceousCoramaeschnidiumWeald Clay Formation, England136.4-130 Ma, Early CretaceousCratoaeschnidiumA. Nel, C. Jouault and G. C. Ribeiro. 2022. The third aeschnidiid dragonfly genus and species from the Lower Cretaceous Crato Formation (Odonata, Anisoptera). Historical Biology 35:865-869Crato Formation, Brazil115-113 Ma, Early CretaceousDakotaeschnidiumA. Nel. 2021. Maastrichtian representatives of the dragonfly family Aeschnidiidae question the entomofaunal turnover of the early Late Cretaceous. Palaeoentomology 4:209-212Fox Hills Formation, The United States of America70.6-66 Ma, Late CretaceousDeiciosaeschidiumPurbeck-Lulworth Formation, England145-140 Ma, Early CretaceousDiastatopaeschnidiumPurbeck-Lulworth Formation, England145-140 Ma, Early CretaceousDracontaeschnidiumYixian Formation, China125-122 Ma, Early CretaceousGansuaeschnidiaX. Zhang, A. Nel, and H. Wang, H. C. Zhang, D. R. Zheng. 2022. A new genus of aeschnidiid dragonfly (Odonata: Anisoptera) from the Lower Cretaceous of the Jiuquan Basin, NW China. Historical Biology 36:12-18Chijinbao Formation, China125-113 Ma, Early CretaceousGigantoaeschnidiumLa Huérguina Formation, Spain130-125 Ma, Early CretaceousIberoaeschnidiumLa Huérguina Formation, Spain130-125 Ma, Early CretaceousJarzembowskiaeschnidiumPurbeck-Lulworth Formation, England145-140 Ma, Early CretaceousKesseleraeschnidiumWeald Clay Formation, England136-130 Ma, Early CretaceousKimmeridgebrachpteraeschnidiumKimmeridge Clay Formation, England156-151 Ma, JurassicLeptaeschnidiumZaza Formation, Russia125-113 Ma, Early CretaceousLinaeschnidiumD. Y. Huang, A. Baudoin and A. Nel. 2009. A new aeschnidiid genus from the Early Cretaceous of China (Odonata: Anisoptera). Cretaceous Research 30:805-809Yixian Formation, China125-122 Ma, Early CretaceousLithoaeschnidiumSolnhofen Limestone, Germany151-145 Ma, Late JurassicLleidoaeschnidiumLa Pedrera de Rubies Formation, Spain and the Weald Clay Formation, England130-125 Ma, Early CretaceousMalmaeschnidiumSolnhofen Limestone, Germany151-145 Ma, Late JurassicMisofaeschnidiumNusplingen Limestone, Germany and the Solnhofen Limestone, Germany156-145 Ma, Late JurassicNannoaeschnidiumLa Huérguina Formation, Spain130-125 Ma, Early CretaceousRossaeschnidiumWeald Clay Formation, England130-125 Ma, Early CretaceousSantanopteraG. Bechly. 2007. Odonata: damselflies and dragonflies. In D. M. Martill, G. Bechly, R. F. Loveridge (eds.), The Crato Fossil Beds of Brazil: Window into an Ancient WorldCrato Formation, Brazil122-112 Ma, Early CretaceousSinaeschnidiaHangjiahu Formation, China, the Laiyang Formation, China, the Baiwan Formation, China, the Yixian Formation, China, the Shahai Formation, China, the Chijinbao Formation, China, and the La Huérguina Formation, Spain130-113 Ma, Early CretaceousSinostenophlebiaD. R. Zheng, H. Wang, and E. A. Jarzembowski, B. Wang, S. C. Chang, H. C. Zhang. 2016. New data on Early Cretaceous odonatans (Stenophlebiidae, Aeschnidiidae) from northern China. Cretaceous Research 67:59-65Qingshila Formation, China129-125 Ma, Early CretaceousSolnhofeniaSolnhofen Limestone, Germany151-145 Ma, Late JurassicStylaeschnidiumYixian Formation, China125-122 Ma, Early CretaceousTauropteryxCrimea, Ukraine99.6-93.5 Ma, Late CretaceousUrogomphus?Solnhofen Limestone, Germany and the Purbeck-Lulworth Formation, England151-140 Ma, Late Jurassic to Early CretaceousWightoniaCrato Formation, Brazil122-112 Ma, Early Cretaceous References