This family has the greatest number of species among the Zygoptera suborder. These are rather small damselflies, with thin and elongated abdomen. Coloration can be very different one species from the other, however most males show a pattern with blue-black alternation, while females can be more variable. Sexual dimorphism is usually striking, except in “androchrome” females. The thorax has typically a dark dorsal line: on the sides of this line there are pale antehumeral stripes followed by a darker humeral stripe on each side. The width of the stripes allows in many situations identification of the species. The abdomen has a black pattern, usually typical for each species (not always). Some species feature an abdomen completely black except for a colored part. Forewings and hindwings are very similar and almost always held shut along the abdomen at rest. Dorsally, two colored post-ocular spots can be seen on the head, often linked by a colored line.