First time using the Parsimony Analysis of Endemicity (PAE) to identify Areas of Endemism of various genera of Odonata in Venezuela.

We revised the Odonata collection of the Museo del Instituto de Zoología Agrícola (MIZA), Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad Central de Venezuela (UCV), creating a database for nine selected genera and 35 species. The data were submitted to a Parsimony Analysis of Endemicity (PAE) using the WINCLADA/NONA program. Our results show a total of 25 areas, of which 11 turned out to be areas of endemism. The Pantepui region, the Andes, and La Costa mountain ranges can be considered centers of endemism. Biodiversity conservation strategies must be focused on the mountainous areas of the north of the country, where anthropogenic impact is greatest, as over 70% of the human population is concentrated in this area [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]