Published 2026 | Version v1.1
Dataset Open

OdonTraits Europe. A comprehensive traits dataset for European dragonflies and damselflies

Authors/Creators

  • 1. ROR icon Research Institute for Nature and Forest
  • 2. ROR icon University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
  • 3. ROR icon German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research
  • 4. ROR icon Friedrich Schiller University Jena
  • 5. ROR icon Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research
  • 6. ROR icon Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle
  • 7. ROR icon UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
  • 8. ROR icon Fondation Pour la Recherche Sur la Biodiversité

Description

Description

Species traits are an important facet of biodiversity and are useful for testing many ecological hypotheses. Many initiatives to centralize species traits have emerged in recent years, but there are still large gaps in species traits’ knowledge in the literature. Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) are present in most freshwater and surrounding ecosystems and are important indicators of freshwater health and conditions across the land-water interface. They are also important predators and prey both as larvae and adults and are vital to land-water energy transfers and community functioning. Here we present OdonTraits Europe, a database aggregating traits of all 143 European resident Odonata species. Our database compiles 43 traits representing adult and larvae morphology, life history, behaviour, phenology, and other ecological attributes, along with species legal, endemism, and conservation status, with a taxonomic coverage of > 95% for all traits. Accessible and robust coverage of Odonata species traits will help to advance knowledge and applications involving this sentinel of the freshwater realm.

For more information, see the data paper describing the OdonTraits Europe dataset:

De Knijf, G., Bried, J., Engel, T., Jeanmougin, M., Fontaine, C., Schmucki, R., & Nicvert, L. (2026). OdonTraits Europe. A comprehensive traits dataset for European dragonflies and damselflies. Scientific Data. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-026-07667-5

File overview

The following files are contained in this record.

  • imago.csv 
  • larvae_exuvia.csv
  • ecological.csv
  • protection_endemism.csv
  • conservation.csv
  • taxonomic.csv
  • sources.csv
  • references.csv

Missing values are coded as "NA". 

File descriptions

imago.csv

This file contains morphological traits of Odonata adults in Europe.

Column label Column description
species_name scientific species name 
body_size_min minimal adult body size in millimeters
body_size_max maximal adult body size in millimeters
abdomen_length_min  minimal adult body length in millimeters
abdomen_length_max  maximal adult body length in millimeters
hindwing_min minimal hindwing span in millimeters
hindwing_max maximal hindwing span in millimeters
coloration_male specific coloration of mature male body: 1 - dark/black;  2 - azure blue/black; 3 - metallic green/blue; 4 - yellow/dark; 5 - brownish; 6 - green-yellow; 7 - gray-blue; 8 - red
coloration_class coloration of mature male body (general aspect): dark (black, azure-blue, brown, dark green); intermediate; pale (red, yellow, light blue)

larvae_exuvia.csv

This file contains morphological traits of final-instar Odonata larvae (measured from final exuvia) in Europe.

Column label Column description
species_name scientific species name 
exuvia_length_min minimal exuvia total length in millimeters (including caudal lamellae for Zygoptera)
exuvia_length_max maximal exuvia total  length in millimeters (including caudal lamellae for Zygoptera)
exuvia_body_length_min  minimal exuvia body length (mm) for Zygoptera only
exuvia_body_length_max maximal exuvia body length (mm) for Zygoptera only
exuvia_caudal_lamellae_min minimal exuvia length of caudal lamellae (mm) for Zygoptera only
exuvia_caudal_lamellae_max maximal exuvia length of caudal lamellae (mm) for Zygoptera only

ecological.csv

This file contains ecological traits of Odonata in Europe.

Column label Column description
species_name scientific species name 
habitat habitat preference: 1 - eutrophic; 2 - oligotrophic; 3 - temporary waters; 4 - streams and rivers; 5 - southern streams and rivers (= Mediterranean); 6 - generalist (species occurring in a wide range of standing and flowing waters)
percher_flier Adult activity modes related to thermoregulation and foraging, where perchers spend most time at rest, fliers spend more time in flight, and  flier_percher use both strategies
start_main_flight_period start of the main flight period in Europe, excluding the extreme early records
end_main_flight_period end of the main flight period in Europe, excluding the extreme late records
sti Species Temperature Index (STI) is the average temperature (°C) of the species’ range in Europe, based on the data from 1990 onwards from the European atlas; uses average monthly temperatures for 1960–1990 (WordlClim) at a 50 × 50 km grid scale.
sti_sd Species Temperature Index (STI) standard deviation
partivoltine >2 years to complete one generation
semivoltine 2 years to complete one generation
univoltine 1 year to complete one generation
bivoltine 2 generations completed in one year
multivoltine >2 generations completed in one year
overwintering_stage overwintering as: larva; egg; egg_larva (semi- or partivoltine species overwinters first year in egg stadium and second winter as larva); adult
oviposition_mode endophyic = the laying of eggs inside a substrate, usually living or dead plant tissue; exophytic = the dropping of eggs onto the water surface or during flight; sediment = the laying of eggs inside the bottom substrate of a stream
larval_strategy position in the water of the larvae (behaviour and feeding strategy): burrower = in the bottom sediment; clasper = on rocks, stones, soil; hider = hide within roots of trees; sprawler = within the submerged vegetation

protection_endemism.csv

This file contains legal protection status and endemism of Odonata in Europe.

Column label Column description
species_name scientific species name 
bern_convention Species listed in the Council of Europe’s Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (1979), or Bern Convention, which was the first legal convention to protect Europe’s wild plants and animals. 
habitats_directive_2 Species mentioned on Annex II of the European Habitats Directive; countries need to designate, protect and manage special areas of conservation for those species
habitats_directive_4 Species mentioned on Annex IV of the European Habitats Directive; species of “community interest” that requires strict protection throughout its entire range
endemic_europe Species is endemic to Europe
endemic_eu27 Species is endemic to the 27 countries of the European Union (EU27)
near_endemic_europe Species just occurs marginally outside Europe, i.e. North Africa, Turkey or just east of the Ural Mountains

conservation.csv

This file contains conservation status indicators of Odonata in Europe.

Column label Column description
species_name scientific species name 
redlist_2024_category Red List category in Europe as assessed in the European Red List of 2024: Critically Endangered (CR); Endangered (EN); Vulnerable (VU); Near Threatened (NT); Data Deficient (DD); Least Concern (LC); Not Applicable (NA) (species does not occur in the focal region)
redlist_2024_criteria IUCN Red List criteria for threatened (CR, EN, VU) or near-threatened (NT) status
eu27_redlist_2024_category Red list category in EU27 as assessed in the European Red List of 2024: Critically Endangered (CR); Endangered (EN); Vulnerable (VU); Near Threatened (NT); Data Deficient (DD); Least Concern (LC); Not Applicable (NA) (species does not occur in the focal region)
eu27_redlist_2024_criteria IUCN Red List criteria for threatened (CR, EN, VU) or near-threatened (NT) status
population_trend occurrence trends of dragonflies in Europe over the period 2010-2020, as calculated for the European Red List: decreasing; increasing; stable; unknown
eoo_europe Extent of Occurrence (EOO) of a species in Europe in km² in the period 2000-2020, calculated using IUCN method; this is the surface area of a convex hull around the records and  includes not suitable habitats for the species and even seas
aoo_europe Area of Occupancy (AOO) is the area within its ‘extent of occurrence’ in Europe which is occupied by a species, calculated here as the sum of all 2 x 2 km squares where the species has been found in the period 2000-2020 
eoo_eu27 Extent of Occurrence (EOO) of a species in EU27 in km² in the period 2000-2020, calculated using IUCN method; this is the surface area of a convex hull around the records and  includes not suitable habitats for the species and even seas
aoo_eu27 Area of Occupancy (AOO) is the area within its ‘extent of occurrence’ in EU27 which is occupied by a species, calculated here as the sum of all 2 x 2 km squares where the species has been found in the period 2000-2020 

taxonomic.csv

This file contains the species list with higher taxonomy.

Column label Column description
species_name scientific species name 
species_name_long full scientific species name with author
family family 
genus generic name
species species epithet 

sources.csv

This file contains the data sources as short reference. For full references, see the file "references.csv"

Column label Column description
species_name scientific species name 
body_size Data source for body_size as short reference
abdomen_length Data source for abdomen_length as short reference
hindwing Data source for hindwing as short reference
coloration_male Data source for coloration_male as short reference
coloration_class Data source for coloration_class as short reference
exuvia_length_min Data source for exuvia_length_min as short reference
exuvia_body_length Data source for exuvia_body_length as short reference
exuvia_caudal_lamellae_min Data source for exuvia_caudal_lamellae_min as short reference
habitat Data source for habitat as short reference
percher_flier Data source for percher_flier as short reference
main_flight_period Data source for main_flight_period as short reference
sti Data source for sti as short reference
sti_sd Data source for sti_sd as short reference
voltinism Data source for voltinism as short reference
overwintering_stage Data source for overwintering_stage as short reference
oviposition_mode Data source for oviposition_mode as short reference
larval_strategy Data source for larval_strategy as short reference
bern_convention Data source for bern_convention as short reference
habitats_directive Data source for habitats_directive as short reference
endemic_europe Data source for endemic_europe as short reference
endemic_eu27 Data source for endemic_eu27 as short reference
near_endemic_europe Data source for near_endemic_europe as short reference
redlist_2024_category Data source for redlist_2024_category as short reference
redlist_2024_criteria Data source for redlist_2024_criteria as short reference
eu27_redlist_2024_category Data source for eu27_redlist_2024_category as short reference
eu27_redlist_2024_criteria Data source for eu27_redlist_2024_criteria as short reference
population_trend Data source for population_trend as short reference
eoo_europe Data source for eoo_europe as short reference
aoo_europe Data source for aoo_europe as short reference
eoo_eu27 Data source for eoo_eu27 as short reference
aoo_eu27 Data source for aoo_eu27 as short reference

references.csv

This file contains the short and long references of all data sources in "sources.csv".

Column label Column description
short_reference Short reference of data sources
long_reference Long reference of data sources

 

Changes in version v1.1

  • The files "sources.csv" and "references.csv" were added for the source attribution of the trait values.

Files

conservation.csv

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Additional details

Related works

Is described by
Data paper: 10.1038/s41597-026-07667-5 (DOI)
Is supplement to
Publication: 10.1016/j.biocon.2026.111786 (DOI)

References

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  • Boudot J-P, Borisov SN, De Knijf G, van Grunsven R, Schröter A., Kalkman VJ. 2021. Atlas of the dragonflies and damselflies of West and Central Asia. Brachytron 22 Supplement: 4-238
  • Boudot J-P, Kalkman VJ (eds). 2015. Atlas of the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Europe. KNNV Publishing, Utrecht
  • De Knijf G, Sparrow DJ, Dimitriou AC, Kent R, Kent H, Siedle K, Lewis J & Crossley L .2016. Distribution, ecology and status of a threatened species Ischnura intermedia (Insecta: Odonata), new for Europe. International Journal of Odonatology 19: 257-274. https://doi.org/10.1080/13887890.2016.1259662
  • De Knijf G, Billqvist M, van Grunsven RHA, Prunier F, Vinko D, Trottet A, Bellotto V, Clay J, Allen, DJ (2024) Measuring the pulse of European biodiversity. European Red List of Dragonflies & Damselflies (Odonata). Brussels, Belgium: European Commission. https://doi.org/10.2779/462053
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  • Lopez-Estrada EK, Fernandez JB, Cardo-Maeso N, Montejano ST & Diaz-Martinez C. 2020. Onychogomphus cazuma sp. nov. from Spain: Molecular and morphological evidence supports the discovery of a new European dragonfly species (Odonata: Gomphidae). Odonatologica 49 (1/2): 125-154. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3823337
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  • Suhling F, Müller O. 1996. Die Flußjungfern Europas: Gomphidae - Reihe: Die Libellen Europas, Teil 2 innerh. der Neuen Brehm-Bücherei, Magdeburg, Germany
  • Termaat T, van Strien A J, van Grunsven RHA, De Knijf G, Bjelke U, Burbach K, Conze K-J, Goffart P, Hepper D, Kalkman VJ, Motte G, Prins M, Prunier F, Sparrow DJ, van den Top GG, Vanappelghem C, Winterholler M & Wallis De Vries M F (2019) Distribution trends of European dragonflies under climate change. Diversity and Distributions 25 (6), 936-950. https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.12913 (2019).
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