---
title: "Black-shouldered Spinyleg"
description: "Dromogomphus spinosus — Insectos y arañas. Dromogomphus spinosus, the black-shouldered spinyleg, is a species of dragonflies in the family Gomphidae."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/es/animal/black-shouldered-spinyleg
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Black-shouldered Spinyleg

> Dromogomphus spinosus — Insectos y arañas. Dromogomphus spinosus, the black-shouldered spinyleg, is a species of dragonflies in the family Gomphidae.

- Scientific name: *Dromogomphus spinosus*
- Category: `insects` (Insectos y arañas)
- Habitats: `freshwater` (Lagos y ríos)
- iNaturalist observations: 9516
- Wikidata: [Q4327093](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4327093)
- iNaturalist taxon: [99609](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/99609)

## Names

- en: Black-shouldered Spinyleg
- fr: Gomphe épineux

## Countries with the most observations

US (6486), CA (2346)

## Summary

Dromogomphus spinosus, the black-shouldered spinyleg, is a species of dragonflies in the family Gomphidae.
Like other spinylegs, D. spinosus have long spines on their legs that help in the capture of prey. True to their name their shoulders are black. The dorsal thorax has a light green I-shaped mark with pale ovals on either side. Their flight time is between late May and early September from southern Manitoba to the east coast of the US as far south as Florida. Terminal segments form a club with yellow lateral markings.
Adults average 2.5 in (64 mm).

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

## Photo

![Black-shouldered Spinyleg](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/black-shouldered-spinyleg/medium.jpg)

Photo: Brighton Lee · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/300201033

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/black-shouldered-spinyleg?lang=es` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).