Checklist of Odonata species (Insecta) from Pará State, Brazil

Abstract

Abstract The Amazon is home to most of the Earth's biodiversity, but comprehensive data on actual diversity, including species checklists, are still incomplete for most taxonomic groups. The order Odonata is composed of predatory aquatic insects which, due to their sensitivity to environmental changes, are used as bioindicators of environmental quality. In Brazil, 862 Odonata species have been recorded, distributed in 146 genera and 15 families, despite only 30% of the Brazilian territory has been studied for this group. The aim of this study is to fill some information gaps on the biodiversity of Odonata species in the state of Pará, in the Amazon biome. Occurrence records were obtained through primary data, including specimens deposited in the invertebrate collections of the Federal University of Pará (UFPA) and the Emílio Goeldi Museum of Pará (MPEG), as well as literature records and online databases. Information was collected on the distribution of 282 species, covering 11 families in 75 genera, including six new records for the state: L. aculeatum Santos, 1965 for the suborder Zygoptera and G. gracilis; A. trameiformis Kirby; M. atra; M. tibialis and T. cophysa for the suborder Anisoptera. The Pará state biodiversity still has Linnean and Wallacean gaps, mainly in places difficult to access or remote areas far from universities or research institutions. These areas still require additional sampling, as the current efforts have not been sufficient to accurately capture the true local biodiversity. As a result, many species are at risk of becoming extinct before they have even been described or their conservation status assessed. At the same time, the state continues to show high rates of transformation and loss of natural habitats, indicating the urgency of investing in research and teaching activities, as well as conservation actions to enable the preservation of the diversity of Odonata in the state of Pará.