Phylogenetic relationships of North American Gomphidae and their close relatives

Abstract

Abstract Intrafamilial relationships among clubtail dragonflies (Gomphidae) have been the subject of many morphological studies, but have not yet been systematically evaluated using molecular data. Here we present the first molecular phylogeny of Gomphidae. We include six of the eight subfamilies previously suggested to be valid, and evaluate generic relationships within them. We have included examples of all genera reported from the Nearctic except Phyllocycla . This sample includes all North American species of Ophiogomphus , which has allowed us to explore intrageneric relationships in that genus. Our particular focus is on the closest relatives of the genus Gomphus , especially those North American species groups that have been commonly treated as subgenera of Gomphus . The Gomphus complex is split into additional genera, supported by molecular and morphological evidence: Phanogomphus, Stenogomphurus, Gomphurus and Hylogomphus are here considered to be valid genera. The genus Gomphus , in our restricted sense, does not occur in the western hemisphere; in addition, G. flavipes is transferred to Stylurus .