The anisopteran Neocordulia Selys, 1882 is the most species-rich genus among all Corduliidae s.l. in the Neotropical region, and its taxonomy is plagued with inconsistencies, misconceptions and weak species-level hypotheses. This is mostly due to the boost in the number of species described since the most recent revision in the 1990s. Many species are known only from a single specimen that emerged in laboratory conditions, reared from larvae, and many are pending revision. This genus is a key group for understanding the phylogeny and spatial and morphological evolution of Corduliidae s.l. as part of Idomacromiidae, a clade including four other genera: Idomacromia Karsch, 1896, Nesocordulia McLachlan, 1882, Oxygastra Selys, 1870 and Syncordulia Selys, 1882. Neocordulia mambucabensis Costa & T.C. Santos, 2000, a Brazilian Atlantic Forest endemic dragonfly, is one of the poorly known species of the genus. The morphology and taxonomic status of adults and larvae of this South American emerald are reviewed based on the study of specimens from the southernmost known population for this species and compared to the type series. Illustrations, including images from the types, collection and alive specimens, as well as details of its habitat are provided. The male is rediagnosed, while our results do not support the female “allotype” as belonging to N. mambucabensis , so it is redescribed based on unequivocal specimens. The morphology of ultimate stadium larvae (F-0) is described, diagnosed, and illustrated for the first time. Because of numerous inaccuracies in literature, resulting in deficient knowledge of the taxonomy of Neocordulia , the genus requires further revision. Based on the information currently available, it is not possible to definitively provide adequate diagnoses for Neocordulia species.
Ehlert et al. (Wed,) studied this question.
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