Apocordulia
Apocordulia is a genus of dragonflies in the family Austrocorduliidae, endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is monotypic, containing a single species, Apocordulia macrops.
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.
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.The species name macrops is derived from two Greek words makros meaning long, and ops meaning eye, describing the long eye seam.
Taxonomy
In earlier higher-level classifications, the placement of Apocordulia was uncertain and it was considered incertae sedis within the superfamily Libelluloidea.A comprehensive phylogenetic revision of emerald and tigertail dragonflies by Goodman et al. reinstated the family Austrocorduliidae and showed that Apocordulia belongs within that family. This replaces earlier treatments that placed Apocordulia variously in Corduliidae or Synthemistidae.