Pronghorn Clubtail

Newly emerged adult pronghorn clubtail dragonfly perched on a grass stem
Scientific Name
Phanogomphus graslinellus
Family
Gomphidae (Clubtails) in the order Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies)
Description

The pronghorn clubtail is one of several members of its genus in our area that are rather hard to separate into species. Specialists usually must have them in hand in order to make solid IDs, because they need to examine minute details of stripes and other markings, as well as details of reproductive anatomy.

Like other clubtails in genus Phanogomphus, the pronghorn clubtail is a medium-sized, rather slender dragonfly with a rather slender "club" on its tail, compared to other members of the clubtail family.

Learn more about this and other dragonflies on their group page.

Media Gallery
Newly emerged adult pronghorn clubtail dragonfly perched on a grass stem
Pronghorn clubtail freshly emerged adult. Dragonflies are quite pale when they first emerge from their nymphal form. This individual will soon darken considerably.
Jim Rathert
Photo by Jim Rathert, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation
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Newly emerged adult pronghorn clubtail dragonfly perched on a grass stem
Similar Species
About Land Invertebrates in Missouri
Invertebrates are animals without backbones, including earthworms, slugs, snails, and arthropods. Arthropods—invertebrates with “jointed legs” — are a group of invertebrates that includes crayfish, shrimp, millipedes, centipedes, mites, spiders, and insects. There may be as many as 10 million species of insects alive on earth today, and they probably constitute more than 90 percent all animal species.
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