Ancient dragonfly (Ancient dragonfly) - Ancient dragonfly (English spelling) Epiophlebia superstes

Japanese: ムカシトンボ(昔蜻蛉) - ムカシトンボ（英語表記）Epiophlebia superstes

This insect belongs to the family Acanthoptera of the order Odonata, and is a relict species of the suborder Acanthoptera, an extinct group that flourished around the Jurassic Period of the Mesozoic era (illustration). It is endemic to Japan, and can be found from Hokkaido to Kagoshima Prefecture. With a body length of about 50 mm and a hind wing length of about 38 mm, it looks similar to species of the Acanthoptera family at first glance, but its wings taper at the base and its wing venation is closer to that of the Zygoptera suborder. The larvae live in the low-temperature environment among the gravel of mountain streams, and are thought to live there for 7 to 8 years. They emerge in April or May and fly over the valleys.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

トンボ目ムカシトンボ科の昆虫で，中生代ジュラ紀ころに栄えた絶滅群のムカシトンボ亜目の遺存種である（イラスト）。日本特産種で，北海道から鹿児島県まで見られる。体長約50mm，後翅長約38mm，一見サナエトンボ科の種に似るが，翅は基部で細まり，翅脈相は均翅亜目のものに近い。幼虫は山間の渓流の石れき間の低水温の環境にすみ，その期間は7～8年にわたると想像される。4～5月に羽化し，渓谷の上空を飛翔（ひしよう）する。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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