Mexican species
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As in most parts of the tropics the odonate distribution in Mexico is still not fully uncovered. Both the lack of field work and the complexity of similarity between species, eg. genus Argia, make it a slow progress. But the interest and awareness is growing, why a flow of new discoveries are expected during the coming years.
The main resource I've used to build my lists from, is the one maintained by Dennis Paulson at Puget Sound Museum of Natural History. Being a capacity on the New World Odonates his lists are curated and the best starting point. New information and discoveries are best searched using iNaturalist, this being where most Mexicans put their records (and odonate-lovers worldwide, when not using local databases). Additional information, of course, is also found in other relevante online resources. I'm running frequent scans of the most common resources trying to keep up with the present state of knowledge. I think enough is known already to get the larger picture of the species distribution in the country, though. And probably not surprising the maps shows a similar pattern as the one representing the distribution of bird species,with the most species-rich regions being around the Tehuantepec isthmus (Chiapas, Oaxaca and Veracruz) and next West Central Mexico centered around Jalisco. Linked to below, I've also made a table list to show the data in a more compressed form. And you have the option to list it sorted by geography too, showing the states in a northern to southern order. This gives you a better understanding about the distribution of genera and families in the country. The species accounts related to Mexico are still far from being made, and the same goes for the endemic status. Map showing the species I've seen here. State lists updated per October, 2026. |
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| Species per state | |||
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0-30
31-60
61-90
91-120
121-150
151-180
181-210
211-240
241-270
271-300
301-330
330 <
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| Show explanation | |||
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Tlaxcala (tla) |
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| Total | Registered | ||
| Mexican endemics | |||
| True Species that normally do not occur outside of Mexico. | 1 | 0 | |
| Regionals US border states plus area south of Mexico including Nicaragua. | 10 | 0 | |
| Added: Argia tezpi Argia tarascana Enallagma novaehispaniae Oplonaeschna armata Paltothemis lineatipes Tramea onusta |
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| Only show endemic species Show registered species Show species with PSV | Endemics | ||
| Spreadwings (Lestidae) | |||
| Great Spreadwing (Archilestes grandis) | map | 1 | |
| Plateau Spreadwing (Lestes alacer) | map | 2 | |
| Demoiselles (Calopterygidae) | |||
| Canyon Rubyspot (Hetaerina vulnerata) | map | Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, USA. | 3 |
| Pond Damselflies (Coenagrionidae) | |||
| Spine-tipped Dancer (Argia extranea) | map | Mexico, USA. | 4 |
| Aztec Dancer (Argia nahuana) | map | 5 | |
| Tarascan Dancer (Argia tarascana) | map | Mexico, USA. | 6 |
| Tezpi Dancer (Argia tezpi) | map | 7 | |
| Tonto Dancer (Argia tonto) | map | Mexico, USA. | 8 |
| Familiar Bluet (Enallagma civile) | map | 9 | |
| Neotropical Bluet (Enallagma novaehispaniae) | map | 10 | |
| Arroyo Bluet (Enallagma praevarum) | map | 11 | |
| Painted Damsel (Hesperagrion heterodoxum) | map | Mexico, USA. | 12 |
| Mexican Forktail (Ischnura demorsa) | map | Mexico, USA. | 13 |
| Black-fronted Forktail (Ischnura denticollis) | map | 14 | |
| Hawkers (Aeshnidae) | |||
| Icarus Darner (Coryphaeschna apeora) | map | 15 | |
| Riffle Darner (Oplonaeschna armata) | map | Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, USA. | 16 |
| Broad-striped Riffle Darner (Oplonaeschna magna) | map | Mexico. | 17 |
| Arroyo Darner (Rhionaeschna dugesi) | map | Mexico, USA. | 18 |
| Blue-eyed Darner (Rhionaeschna multicolor) | map | 19 | |
| Turquoise-tipped Darner (Rhionaeschna psilus) | map | 20 | |
| Clubtails (Gomphidae) | |||
| Yellow-legged Ringtail (Erpetogomphus crotalinus) | map | Mexico, USA. | 21 |
| Zebra-striped Sanddragon (Progomphus clendoni) | map | 22 | |
| Goldenrings (Cordulegastridae) | |||
| Apache Spiketail (Cordulegaster diadema) | map | 23 | |
| Skimmers (Libellulidae) | |||
| Western Pondhawk (Erythemis collocata) | map | 24 | |
| Pin-tailed Pondhawk (Erythemis plebeja) | map | 25 | |
| Great Pondhawk (Erythemis vesiculosa) | map | 26 | |
| Black-winged Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax funerea) | map | 27 | |
| Hoary Skimmer (Libellula nodisticta) | map | Mexico, USA. | 28 |
| Flame Skimmer (Libellula saturata) | map | 29 | |
| Red Rock Skimmer (Paltothemis lineatipes) | map | 30 | |
| Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens) | map | 31 | |
| Spot-winged Glider (Pantala hymenaea) | map | 32 | |
| Filigree Skimmer (Pseudoleon superbus) | map | 33 | |
| Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum) | map | 34 | |
| Cardinal Meadowhawk (Sympetrum illotum) | map | 35 | |
| Red Saddlebags (Tramea onusta) | map | 36 | |