Cobra Clubtail vs Midland Clubtail

Gomphurus vastus compared with Gomphurus fraternus

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Cobra Clubtail	Midland Clubtail
Kingdom same	Animalia (hayvan)	Animalia (hayvan)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (Eklem bacaklılar)	Arthropoda (Eklem bacaklılar)
Class same	Insecta (böcek)	Insecta (böcek)
Order same	Odonata (Kızböcekleri)	Odonata (Kızböcekleri)
Family same	Gomphidae	Gomphidae
Genus same	Gomphurus	Gomphurus
Species	Gomphurus vastus	Gomphurus fraternus

Evolutionary Relationship

Cobra Clubtail and Midland Clubtail share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Gomphurus.

Conservation Status

Cobra Clubtail

LC — Least Concern

Midland Clubtail

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Cobra Clubtail	Midland Clubtail
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Cobra Clubtail

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found in United States.

Midland Clubtail

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found in United States.

Cobra Clubtail

The cobra clubtail (Gomphurus vastus) is a large, robust dragonfly belonging to the family Gomphidae, distinguished by the characteristic club-shaped expansion at the terminal segments of the male's abdomen—a feature that lends the entire clubtail family its common name. This species is one of the largest gomphids in eastern North America, with a body length typically reaching 60–75 millimeters. Males display striking yellow and black patterning along the abdomen, with the club markings particularly vivid during territorial displays. Cobra clubtails inhabit large, clean rivers with moderate to swift currents and sandy or gravelly substrates, where larvae burrow into the riverbed during their multi-year aquatic development. The species is distributed across the eastern United States, with strongholds in river systems draining the Appalachian foothills and the Midwest, including portions of the Ohio, Tennessee, and Mississippi River drainages. Adults are strong fliers that perch on rocks and logs near the water's edge, making short forays to catch flying insect prey in mid-air. Mating occurs in flight over the river, and females deposit eggs directly into the water by tapping the abdomen on the surface. The cobra clubtail is sensitive to water quality degradation and siltation, serving as a bioindicator of river health. It is listed as Least Concern given its relatively broad distribution across river systems with adequate habitat quality.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 1 countries:

🇺🇸 United States