# Broad-bodied chaser (*Libellula depressa*)

Canonical page: https://creaturedata.com/animals/broad-bodied-chaser  
Data as of: 2026-11-11

The broad-bodied chaser (Libellula depressa) is an insect in the subgroup dragonflies and damselflies, placed in the family Libellulidae. It belongs to the order Odonata, suborder Anisoptera and superfamily Libelluloidea, within the class Insecta and phylum Arthropoda. The species was named by Linnaeus, 1758, and is also called the Broad-bodied Libellula or Broad-bodied chaser dragonfly. The IUCN Red List assesses it globally as Least Concern (LC), which is not a threatened category.

## Quick facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | Not recorded |
| Length | 3.9 cm – 4.8 cm |
| Lifespan | Not recorded |
| Diet | Invertivore |
| Main food | Not recorded |
| Habitat | freshwater |
| Young per litter or clutch | Not recorded |
| Active | By day (diurnal) |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |
| Countries on record | Not recorded |

## Classification

- kingdom: Animalia
- phylum: Arthropoda
- class: Insecta
- order: Odonata
- family: Libellulidae
- genus: Libellula
- species: *Libellula depressa* Linnaeus, 1758

Synonyms: *Libellula depressa subsp. taurica*, *Libellula sylvia*, *Platetrum depressum*

## Common questions

### What kind of animal is the broad-bodied chaser?

The broad-bodied chaser is an insect in the subgroup dragonflies and damselflies. It belongs to the family Libellulidae in the order Odonata.

### What is the scientific name of the broad-bodied chaser?

Its scientific name is Libellula depressa, placing it in the genus Libellula.

### Who named Libellula depressa and when?

The species name is credited to Linnaeus, 1758.

### Is the broad-bodied chaser endangered?

No. The IUCN Red List assesses it globally as Least Concern (LC), which is not a threatened category.

### What other names does the broad-bodied chaser have?

It is also called the Broad bodied chaser, Broad-bodied Libellula and Broad-bodied chaser dragonfly.

### Which suborder does the broad-bodied chaser belong to?

It belongs to the suborder Anisoptera and the superfamily Libelluloidea.

## Sources

- [Catalogue of Life eXtended Release](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/316691), CC BY 4.0, 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life (2026). Catalogue of Life eXtended Release, version 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgzlf
- [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org), per file (CC0 / public domain / CC BY green, CC BY-SA amber, anything else not displayed), 2026-11-11. Wikimedia Commons contributors. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org (each file credited to its author under its own licence).
- [TraitCH: a multi-taxa functional trait dataset for Switzerland and Europe](https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15063844), CC BY 4.0, 2.0. Chauvier, Y., Adde, A., Bergamini, A. et al. (2025) TraitCH: a multi-taxa functional trait dataset for Switzerland and Europe. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15063844
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org), CC0 1.0, 2026-11-11. Wikidata contributors. Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org (data retrieved via the Wikidata Query Service).
- [Wikipedia (English)](https://en.wikipedia.org), CC BY-SA 4.0, 2026-11-11. Wikipedia contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org (text under CC BY-SA 4.0; each block names its article and revision).

Cite as: Broad-bodied chaser (Libellula depressa). Retrieved from https://creaturedata.com/animals/broad-bodied-chaser