The distribution of the cosmopolitan genus Anax Leach and its probable origin (Anisoptera: Aeshnidae)

The genus includes approx. 30 spp. The largest number of these occur in southern Asia and in Africa, 4 are known from America and 2 from Europe, while in Australia the representatives occur in the northern part of the continent only. The majority of spp. have either a very local or a very extensive range. The original (Paleocene) territory of the genus (southern Asia – southern Europe and northern Africa – southern North America) has been split up by continental drift in the Neocene, giving rise to 3 apparent focal regions, viz. Eastern Asiatic, Euro-African and American. It is stressed that the pattern of the dispersal of Anax is similar to that of the zygopteran Enallagma.