Phylogeny of Neotropical Protoneuridae (Odonata: Zygoptera) and a preliminary study of their relationship with related families

Abstract.  A cladistic analysis of Neotropical Protoneuridae was performed on a data matrix of 48 morphological characters and 43 terminal taxa. Representatives of Paleotropical Protoneuridae, Platycnemididae and Isostictidae were included to test their relationships with Neotropical Protoneuridae. Coenagrionidae was chosen as the outgroup, but alternative analyses with Platycnemididae as the outgroup were also performed. Protoneuridae appears as a polyphyletic clade, with its Paleotropical component being more closely related to Platycnemididae and Isostictidae. Neotropical Protoneuridae appear as a monophyletic clade; included genera considered monophyletic or valid monotypic taxa are Epipleoneura Williamson, 1915 ; Idioneura Selys, 1860; Junix Rácenis, 1968; Neoneura Selys, 1860; Peristicta Hagen in Selys, 1860; Roppaneura Santos, 1966; and Lamproneura De Marmels, 2003. A key to the Neotropical Protoneuridae genera is included.