Anisoptera is an infraorder under the order Odonata and suborder Epiprocta. It is the group of dragonflies. Anisoptera was formerly considered as a suborder alongside Anisozygoptera or the "ancient dragonflies." As new discoveries were considered, the Anisozygoptera grouping was disbanded and a new suborder, Epiprocta, was created.
Dragonflies have elongated abdomens, long transparent wings, and large multifaceted eyes that cover most of their head size. Their mouth portion is located in the lower part of the head with teeth-bearing mandibles. Similar to other insects, dragonflies have six legs that are rarely used for walking. Dragonflies are considered as among the world's fastest flying insects with top speeds recorded at 22-34 mph or 10-15 meters per second. English-Australian entomologist and geologist Robert John Tillyard claimed to have recorded the Southern Giant Darner, a dragonfly endemic to Australia, flying at nearly 60 miles per hour.
Though similar in almost every feature, dragonflies can be easily distinguished from damselflies through their wings. At rest, adult dragonflies have "open" wings while damselflies have theirs "closed." The wings of adult dragonflies are held away from, and perpendicular to, their bodies at rest while damselflies hold their wings along and together with their long abdomens, form an acute angle.
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