Cobra Clubtail
Gomphurus vastus
This record describes Gomphurus vastus (species). Recorded family: Gomphidae. Recorded order: Odonata.
Identification and Appearance
See Tennessen , Needham . Walker for key to families and genera. See Tennessen , Needham for key to species Nymph : Character states for vastus include: 1. Ligula flat (as in all species except lineatifrons . 2. End tooth of palpal blade much larger than the inner row of palpal teeth. 3. Palpal blade with 3-5 inner teeth (vs. 1-2). 4. Terga 5-8 relatively flat if lateral view; (vs, rounded posterior prominences). These characters shared with crassus, ozarkensis, dilatatus, modestus ; difficult to separate, See Tennessen .
Wikipedia reference for Gomphurus vastus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gomphurus_vastus.
Classification
Habitat and Range
Habitat
"Medium to large, mud-bottomed rivers; sometimes large streams and lakes" ( 4 )
Seasonal Activity
Early June to late August in Massachusetts ( 4 )
About Dragonflies and Damselflies: the wider group
Order-level background for Odonata, the group containing Gomphurus vastus. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Odonata includes ~6,000 described species of dragonflies and damselflies. Dragonflies are among the fastest flying insects, reaching 36 mph (58 km/h). They can fly in any direction including backward, and hover in place - each wing operates independently.
Ecological role of the group
Dragonflies predate dinosaurs by nearly 100 million years - fossils date to 325 million years ago. The largest dragonfly ancestor, Meganeuropsis permiana (285 mya), had a 75cm wingspan, enabled by atmospheric oxygen levels of 31-35% compared to today's 21%. Dragonflies have a 95% hunting success rate - the highest of any predator.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Dragonflies are voracious predators that consume hundreds of mosquitoes daily, providing natural pest control worth millions in reduced mosquito-borne disease risk. A single dragonfly can eat 30 to hundreds of mosquitoes per day.
Recorded sources for this group: Natural History Museum London, Britannica, fossil record research. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Cobra Clubtail (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Tony-2 , Vox Sciurorum
Frequently Asked Questions About Cobra Clubtail
What is Cobra Clubtail?
Cobra Clubtail (Gomphurus vastus) is a species in the family Gomphidae, within the order Odonata.
How do you identify Cobra Clubtail?
See Tennessen , Needham . Walker for key to families and genera. See Tennessen , Needham for key to species Nymph : Character states for vastus include: 1. Ligula flat (as in all species except lineatifrons . 2. End tooth of palpal blade much larger than the inner row of palpal teeth. 3. Palpal blade with 3-5 inner teeth (vs. 1-2). 4. Terga 5-8 relatively flat if lateral view; (vs, rounded posterior prominences). These characters shared with crassus, ozarkensis, dilatatus, modestus ; difficult to separate, See Tennessen .
Where is Cobra Clubtail found?
Habitat: Medium to large, mud-bottomed rivers; sometimes large streams and lakes ( 4 )
When is Cobra Clubtail active?
Cobra Clubtail: seasonal activity - Early June to late August in Massachusetts ( 4 ).