{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "dragonfly",
  "name": "Dragonfly",
  "scientificName": "Anisoptera",
  "category": "Insect",
  "summary": "Dragonflies are fast, agile flying insects with long bodies, huge eyes, and two pairs of transparent wings. They are skilled aerial predators that catch other insects in mid-air, and they spend most of their lives as aquatic larvae before becoming adults. Adult dragonflies usually live only a few weeks to a few months.",
  "conservationStatus": "Least Concern",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Arthropoda",
    "class": "Insecta",
    "order": "Odonata",
    "family": "Libellulidae",
    "genus": null
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 0.001,
    "lengthM": 0.07,
    "topSpeedKmh": 50,
    "lifespanYears": 0.5
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Suborder Anisoptera"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Carnivore (flying insects)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Ponds, lakes, rivers, wetlands"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "Adults a few weeks to months; larvae up to years"
    },
    {
      "label": "Size",
      "value": "Wingspan 2–13 cm depending on species"
    },
    {
      "label": "Top speed",
      "value": "Up to ~50 km/h (30 mph)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Least Concern (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Near fresh water on every continent except Antarctica, from tropical wetlands to temperate ponds and rivers.",
    "continents": [
      "Africa",
      "Asia",
      "Europe",
      "North America",
      "South America",
      "Oceania"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "IUCN Red List — Anisoptera.",
      "url": "https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Anisoptera&searchType=species"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Wikipedia — Dragonfly.",
      "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragonfly"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/dragonfly/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/dragonfly/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}