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Glite Dictionary
Anisoptera

Anisoptera

9.9
A group of dragonflies with strong front and back wings and young that live in water
  • noun
  • /ˌænɪˈsɒptərə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : anisóptera
  • The large size and agile flight of Anisoptera make them fascinating insects to observe.

Examples

  • Taxonomists divide the Odonata into three suborders: Zygoptera, the damselflies; Anisoptera, the dragonflies; and Anisozygoptera, a group somewhere in between the two.

  • Many Anisoptera are found near freshwater habitats where their larvae develop.

  • A winged, fire-breathing Anisoptera.

    Smurfs: The Lost Village (2017)

Synonyms

dragonfly
vsAnisoptera
15 1.4

A fast insect with a long thin body and two pairs of clear wings held out when resting

is the scientific group that contains those insects rather than a single animal
suborder Anisoptera
vsAnisoptera
  • Specialized
9.5

A group of insects like dragonflies that fly strongly and hold their wings flat when resting

is the same group but used simply as the formal name

Compounds

suborder Anisoptera
  • Specialized
9.5

A group of insects like dragonflies that fly strongly and hold their wings flat when resting

Surface Forms

Anisoptera singular
Anisopteras plural

Morphology

Anisoptera = aniso + ptera

Formed from Greek combining elements ('aniso-' = unequal, '-ptera' = wings) used in scientific taxonomy; this structure is not transparent to an average B1 learner without specialist knowledge of classical combining forms.

Etymology

Anisoptera comes from Greek parts aniso- meaning 'unequal' and -ptera meaning 'wings'. So the name describes the true dragonflies, which have two pairs of strong, often unequal wings, and the -ptera part is the same as in pterodactyl to help you remember it means 'wing'.