---
title: "Pacific Forktail"
description: "Ischnura cervula — Insects & spiders. Ischnura cervula, the Pacific forktail, is a species of narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/animal/pacific-forktail
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Pacific Forktail

> Ischnura cervula — Insects & spiders. Ischnura cervula, the Pacific forktail, is a species of narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae.

- Scientific name: *Ischnura cervula*
- Category: `insects` (Insects & spiders)
- Habitats: `freshwater` (Lakes & rivers)
- iNaturalist observations: 17666
- Wikidata: [Q2404950](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2404950)
- iNaturalist taxon: [62229](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/62229)

## Names

- en: Pacific Forktail
- es: Caballito pigmeo del Pacífico
- fr: Agrion des Rocheuses

## Countries with the most observations

US (11353), CA (2650), MX (9)

## Summary

Ischnura cervula, the Pacific forktail, is a species of narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is found in western North America. 
The species is notable for its female color polymorphism, occurring in an andromorphic or heteromorph form. Ischnura cervula occupy freshwater habitats, including springs, wetlands, and slow-moving waters with surrounding vegetation. The species also acts as an intermediate host for the lung fluke Haematoloechus longiplexus, introduced via American bullfrogs. Although listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, habitat loss, poor water quality, and climate change can negatively…

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ischnura_cervula

## Photo

![Pacific Forktail](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/pacific-forktail/medium.jpg)

Photo: Erin Springinotic · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/286460201

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/pacific-forktail?lang=en` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).