Odonate species are classified in terms of their thermoregulatory behavior into flier and percher categories. Larger perchers could be more efficient thermoregulators in sunny sites and smaller perchers depend more on air temperature. In this paper, an analysis of the behavioral temporal budget of an odonate neotropical assemblage was performed to determine the role of body size on territorial defense and general behavioral strategies. This analysis revealed three groups based on time budget. The first and second groups contained the species that remained perched for most of the activity time, but species of the first group differ from the second group by the larger proportion of transition flights. The third group contained species which were usually observed patrolling or in reproductive activities. The larger species spent more time in patrol and territorial defense activities, while smaller species remained perched. Larger dragonflies, with better thermoregulatory abilities could spend more time in reproductive activities. The behavioral classification of fliers and perchers is considered extremely useful but could oversimplify the behavioral patterns among species that have a wide body size variation. It is proposed that a behavioral continuum associated with the body size variation in perchers could explain some patterns of species interactions in odonate communities.342155162Alcock, J., Annual variation in the mating system of the dragonfly Paltothemis lineatipes (Anisoptera: Libellulidae) (1989) J. Zool, 218, pp. 597-602Alcock, J., O'Neill, K.M., Density-dependent mating tactics in the grey haristreak, Strymon melinus (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) (1986) J. Zool, 209, pp. 105-113Altmann, J., Observational study of behavior: Sampling methods (1974) Behaviour, 49, pp. 227-267Banks, M.J., Regulation of damselfly populations: The effects of larval density on larval survival, development rate and size in the field (1987) Freshw. Biol, 17, pp. 357-365Bartholomew, G.A., A matter of size: An examination of endothermy in insects and terrestrial vertebrates, p. 46-78 (1981) Insect thermoregulation, p. 328. , In B. Heinrich (ed.), New York, John Wiley & SonsClausnitzer, V., Territoriality in Notiothemis robertsi Fraser (Anisoptera: Libellulidae) (1996) Odonatologica, 25, pp. 335-345A biology of dragonflies, p. 247. , Corbet, P.S. 1962. (eds.), London, WitherbyDeBano, S.J., Territoriality in the dragonfly Libellula saturata Uhler: Mutual avoidance or resource defense? (Anisoptera: Libellulidae) (1993) Odonatologica, 22, pp. 431-441de Marco, P., The Amazonian Campina dragonfly assemblage: Patterns in microhabitat use and behavior in a foraging habitat (1998) Odonatologica, 27, pp. 239-248de Marco, P., Latini, A.O., Reis, A.P., Environmental determination of dragonfly assemblage in aquaculture ponds (1999) Aquacult. Res, 30, pp. 357-364de Marco, P., Latini, A.O., Ribeiro, P.H.E., Behavioural ecology of Erythemis plebeja (Burmeister) at a small pond in Southeastern Brazil (Anisoptera: Libellulidae) (2002) Odonatologica, 31, pp. 305-312de Marco, P., Resende, D.C., Activity patterns and thermoregulation in a tropical dragonfly assemblage (2002) Odonatologica, 31, pp. 129-138Harvey, I.F., Corbet, P.S., Territorial behaviour of larvae enhances mating success of male dragonflies (1985) Anim. Behav, 33, pp. 561-565Hassan, A.T., Reproductive behaviour of Acisoma panorpoides inflatum Selys (Anisoptera: Libellulidae) (1978) Odonatologica, 7, pp. 237-245Heinrich, B., Casey, T.M., Heat transfer in dragonflies: 'Fliers' and 'perchers' (1978) J. Exp. Biol, 74, pp. 17-36Jacobs, M.E., Studies on territorialism and sexual selection in dragonflies (1955) Ecology, 36, pp. 566-586Multivariate statistical methods: A primer, p. 215. , Manly, B.F.J. 1994. (eds.), London, Chapman and HallMay, M.L., Thermoregulation in adaptation to temperature in dragonflies (Odonata: Anisoptera) (1976) Ecol. Monogr, 46, pp. 1-32May, M.L., Thermoregulation and reprodutive activity in tropical dragonflies of the genus Micrathyria (1977) Ecology, 58, pp. 787-798May, M.L., Insect thermoregulation (1979) Annu. Rev. Entomol, 24, pp. 313-349May, M.L., Temporal activity patterns of Micrathyria in Central America (Anisoptera: Libellulidae) (1980) Odonatologica, 9, pp. 57-74May, M.L., Thermal adaptations of dragonflies, revisited (1991) Adv. Odonat, 5, pp. 71-88Moore, A.J., Behavioral ecology of Libellula luctuosa (Burmeister) (Anisoptera: Libellulidae). 2. Proposed functions for territorial behaviors (1987) Odonatologica, 16, pp. 385-391Climatologia do Brasil, p. 422. , Nimer, E. 1989. (eds.), Rio de Janeiro, IBGEParr, M.J., An analysis of territoriality in libellulid dragonflies (Anisoptera: Libellulidae) (1983) Odonatologica, 12, pp. 39-57Reinhardt, K., Reproductive behaviour of Leucorrhinia albifrons (Burmeister) in a non-territorial situation (Anisoptera: Libellulidae) (1998) Odonatologica, 27, pp. 201-211Sherman, K.J., The adaptive significance of post-copulatory mate guarding in a dragonfly, Pachydiplax longipennis Bannister (Odonata: Libellulidae) (1983) Anim. Behav, 31, pp. 1107-1115Thompson, D.J., Regulation of damselfly populations: The effects of weed density on larval mortality due to predation (1987) Freshw. Biol, 17, pp. 367-371Tundisi, J.G., Musarra, M.L., Morphometry of four lakes in the Rio Doce Valley lake system and its relationships with primary production of phytoplankton (1986) Rev. Bras. Biol, 46, pp. 159-171van Buskirk, J., Density-dependent population dynamics in larvae of the dragonfly Pachydiplax longipennis (1987) Oecologia (Berlin), 72, pp. 221-225van Buskirk, J., Population consequences of larval crowding in the dragonfly Aeshna juncea (1993) Ecology, 74, pp. 1950-1958Wickman, P., Wiklund, C., Territorial defense and its seasonal decline in the speckled wood butterfly (Pararge aegeria) (1983) Anim. Behav, 31, pp. 1206-1216Wildermuth, H., Behaviour of Perithemis mooma Kirby at the oviposition site (Anisoptera: Libellulidae) (1991) Odonatologica, 20, pp. 471-478Wildermuth, H., Reproductive behaviour of Diastatops intensa Montgomery (Anisoptera:Libellulidae) (1994) Odonatologica, 23, pp. 183-191