Sri Lanka has a rich dragonfly fauna. Out of the 118 species of dragonflies and damselflies that occur in the country, 30% of dragonflies and 68% of damselflies are considered endemic.
Suborder Zygoptera - Damselflies
Family Calopterygidae - Jewelwings
Oriental Green-wing (Neurobasis chinensis chinensis)
Black-tipped Flashwing (Vestalis apicalis nigrescens) E
Family Chlorocyphidae - Jewels
Adam’s Gem (Libellago adami) E
Ultima Gem (Libellago finalis) E
Green’s Gem (Libellago greeni) E
Indian Yellow-lined Gem (Libellago lineata indica)
Family Euphaeidae - Gossamerwings
Shining Gossamerwing (Euphaea splendens) E
Family Lestidae - Spreadwings
Scalloped Spreadwing (Lestes praemorsus decipiens)
White-tipped Spreadwing (Lestes elatus)
Malabar Spreadwing (Lestes malabaricus)
Emerald Sri Lanka Spreadwing (Sinhalestes orientalis) E
Metallic-backed Reedling (Indolestes divisus) E
Mountain Reedling (Indolestes gracilis gracilis) E
Family Coenagrionidae - Bluets
White-backed Wisp (Agriocnemis femina)
Wandering Wisp (Agriocnemis pygmaea pygmaea)
Sri Lanka Midget (Mortonagrion ceylonicum) E
Marsh Dancer (Onychargia atrocyana)
Malay Lilysquatter (Paracercion malayanum)
Little Blue (Enallagma parvum)
Asian Slim (Aciagrion occidentale)
Dawn Bluetail (Ischnura aurora aurora)
Common Bluetail (Ischnura senegalensis)
Painted Waxtail (Ceriagrion cerinorubellum)
Yellow Waxtail (Ceriagrion coromandelianum)
Malabar Sprite (Pseudagrion malabaricum)
Blue Sprite (Pseudagrion microcephalum)
Azure Sprite (Pseudagrion decorum)
Sri Lanka Orange-faced Sprite (Pseudagrion rubriceps ceylonicum) E
Family Platycnemididae - Featherlegs
Yellow Featherleg (Copera marginipes)
Family Platystictidae - Forestdamsels
Adam’s Shadowdamsel (Drepanosticta adami) E
Brinck’s Shadowdamsel (Drepanosticta brincki) E
Nobel Shadowdamsel (Drepanosticta digna) E
Fraser’s Shadowdamsel (Drepanosticta fraseri) E
Merry Shadowdamsel (Drepanosticta hilaris) E
Drooping Shadowdamsel (Drepanosticta lankanensis) E
Dark Knob-tipped Shadowdamsel (Drepanosticta montana) E
Nietner’s Shadowdamsel (Drepanosticta nietneri) E
Sinhalese Shadowdamsel (Drepanosticta sinhalensis) E
Starmühlner’s Shadowdamsel (Drepanosticta starmuehlneri) E
Bordered Knob-tipped Shadowdamsel (Drepanosticta submontana) E
Blue-shouldered Cornuted Shadowdamsel (Drepanosticta subtropica) E
Dark-shouldered Cornuted Shadowdamsel (Drepanosticta tropica) E
Wall’s Shadowdamsel (Drepanosticta walli) E
Dark Forestdamsel (Platysticta apicalis) E
Blurry Forestdamsel (Platysticta maculata) E
Family Protoneuridae - Threadtails
Ramajana Bambootail (Disparoneura ramajana) E
Two-spotted Threadtail (Elattoneura bigemmata) E
Jungle Threadtail (Elattoneura caesia) E
Dark-glittering Threadtail (Elattoneura centralis) E
Smoky-winged Threadtail (Elattoneura leucostigma) E
Red-striped Threadtail (Elattoneura tenax) E
Stripe-headed Threadtail (Prodasineura sita) E
Suborder Anisoptera - Dragonflies
Family Gomphidae - Clubtails
Solitaire Clubtail (Anisogomphus solitaris) E
Sinuate Clubtail (Burmagomphus pyramidalis sinuatus) E
Transvestite Clubtail (Cyclogomphus gynostylus) E
Sri Lanka Sabretail (Megalogomphus ceylonicus) E
Brook Hooktail (Paragomphus henryi) E
Sri Lanka Grappletail (Heliogomphus ceylonicus) E
Lyrate Grappletail (Heliogomphus lyratus) E
Nietner’s Grappletail (Heliogomphus nietneri) E
Wall’s Grappletail (Heliogomphus walli) E
Keiser’s Forktail (Macrogomphus annulatus keiseri) E
Sri Lanka Forktail (Macrogomphus lankanensis) E
Wijaya’s Scissortail (Microgomphus wijaya) E
Rivulet Tiger (Gomphidia pearsoni) E
Rapacious Flangetail (Ictinogomphus rapax)
Family Aeshnidae - Hawkers
Pale-spotted Emperor (Anax guttatus)
Fiery Emperor (Anax immaculifrons)
Elephant Emperor (Anax indicus)
Vagrant Emperor (Anax ephippiger)
Indian Duskhawker (Gynacantha dravida)
Dark Hawker (Anaciaeschna donaldi)
Family Corduliidae - Emeralds
Blue-eyed Pondcruiser (Epophthalmia vittata cyanocephala) E
Sri Lanka Cruiser (Macromia zeylanica) E
Family Libellulidae - Chasers
Fruhstorfer’s Junglewatcher (Hylaeothemis fruhstorferi fruhstorferi) E
Yerbury’s Elf (Tetrathemis yerburyii) E
Sombre Lieutenant (Brachydiplax sobrina)
Pale-faced Forestskimmer (Cratilla lineata calverti)
Pruinosed Bloodtail (Lathrecista asiatica asiatica)
Spine-tufted Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysis)
Asian Skimmer (Orthetrum glaucum)
Marsh Skimmer (Orthetrum luzonicum)
Pink Skimmer (Orthetrum pruinosum neglectum)
Green Skimmer (Orthetrum sabina sabina)
Triangle Skimmer (Orthetrum triangulare triangulare)
Blue Pursuer (Potamarcha congener)
Asian Pintail (Acisoma panorpoides panorpoides)
Asian Groundling (Brachythemis contaminata)
Indian Rockdweller (Bradinopyga geminata)
Oriental Scarlet (Crocothemis servilia servilia)
Black-tipped Percher (Diplacodes nebulosa)
Blue Percher (Diplacodes trivialis)
Light-tipped Demon (Indothemis carnatica)
Restless Demon (Indothemis limbata sita)
Paddyfield Parasol (Neurothemis intermedia intermedia)
Pied Parasol (Neurothemis tullia tullia)
Spine-legged Redbolt (Rhodothemis rufa)
Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii)
Crimson Dropwing (Trithemis aurora)
Indigo Dropwing (Trithemis festiva)
Dancing Dropwing (Trithemis pallidinervis)
Aggressive Riverhawk (Onychothemis tonkinensis ceylanica)
Asian Widow (Palpopleura sexmaculata sexmaculata)
Sapphire Flutterer (Rhyothemis triangularis)
Variegated Flutterer (Rhyothemis variegata variegata)
Amber-winged Glider (Hydrobasileus croceus)
Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens)
Burmeister’s Glider (Tramea basilaris burmeisteri)
Sociable Glider (Tramea limbata)
Foggy-winged Twister (Tholymis tillarga)
Dingy Duskflyer (Zyxomma petiolatum)
Elusive Adjutant (Aethriamanta brevipennis brevipennis)
Coastal Pennant (Macrodiplax cora)
Scarlet Basker (Urothemis signata signata)
Sri Lanka Cascader (Zygonyx iris ceylonicum) E
