The recently proposed odonatan ‘suborder’ Cephalozygoptera: fact or fiction

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-170
Author(s):  
ANDRÉ NEL ◽  
DARAN ZHENG
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Fossil Record ◽  
Burmese Amber ◽  
Current State ◽  
The Family

The new ‘suborder’ Cephalozygoptera was recently proposed for three fossil families of damselfly-like Odonata, on the basis of three characters of the head. Here we show, thanks to counter-examples of the presence of these characters in compression fossils of genuine Zygoptera, that these ‘characters’ do not exist in reality but are due to deformations and compression of the heads, a very frequent phenomenon in the fossil record of the whole superorder Odonatoptera. Furthermore, these alleged characters would have to have been regarded as symplesiomorphies, insufficient to support a new clade. Consequently, we consider the Cephalozygoptera as unfounded, to be rejected in the current state of knowledge. A new phylogenetic analysis of the whole clade Panodonata would be welcome. We also discuss the position of some previously described fossils: the Paleocene genus Valerea is restored in the Epallagidae (Euphaeidae), and the two Burmese amber genera Electrodysagrion and Palaeodysagrion are restored in the family Dysagrionidae.

scholarly journals Mouthpart homologies and life habits of Mesozoic long-proboscid scorpionflies

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (10) ◽  
pp. eaay1259
Author(s):  
Xiangdong Zhao ◽  
Bo Wang ◽  
Alexey S. Bashkuev ◽  
Cédric Aria ◽  
Qingqing Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Late Cretaceous ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Burmese Amber ◽  
New Synonym ◽  
The Family ◽  
Life Habits ◽  
Pollinating Insects ◽  
Plant Pollinator ◽  
Robust Evidence

Mesozoic long-proboscid scorpionflies (Mesopsychoidea) provide important clues to ancient plant-pollinator interactions. Among them, the family Aneuretopsychidae is especially important because its mouthparts are vital to deciphering the early evolution of Mesopsychoidea and putatively the origin of fleas (Siphonaptera). However, the identification of mouthpart homologs among Aneuretopsychidae remains controversial because of the lack of three-dimensional anatomical data. Here, we report the first Aneuretopsychidae from Late Cretaceous Burmese amber, which have short maxillary palpi and elongate mouthpart elements consisting of one pair of galeae and one hypopharynx. Their mouthparts are identical to those of Pseudopolycentropodidae (= Dualulidae, new synonym) but are not homologous to those of Siphonaptera. Our phylogenetic analysis provides robust evidence for the debated monophyly of Mesopsychoidea. Our results suggest that the long-proboscid condition has most likely evolved once in Mesopsychoidea, independently from fleas, and further reveal the variety and complexity of mid-Cretaceous pollinating insects.

A new genus and tribe of Cretaceous net-winged beetles from Burmese amber (Coleoptera: Elateroidea: Lycidae)

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 262-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
ERIK TIHELKA ◽  
DIYING HUANG ◽  
CHENYANG CAI
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Record ◽  
New Genus ◽  
Single Specimen ◽  
New Genus And Species ◽  
Burmese Amber ◽  
The Family ◽  
New Tribe

With over 4,600 species distributed worldwide, the net-winged beetles belong among the most speciose elateroid lineages. Despite this, beetles of the family Lycidae are rare in the fossil record. A new genus and species of Lycidae, Cretolycus praecursor gen. et sp. nov., is herein described based on a single specimen preserved in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. Cretolycus praecursor represents the second known lycid from the Mesozoic. A new tribe, Cretolycini trib. nov., is erected for the species, characterised by 11-segmented filiform antennae, 3-segmented labial palpi with an enlarged apical palpomere, and elytra without costae. A catalogue of fossil net-winged beetles is appended.

New cyriacotheriid pantodonts (Mammalia, Pantodonta) from the Paleocene of Alberta, Canada, and the relationships of Cyriacotheriidae

2010 ◽  
Vol 84 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig S. Scott
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
New Species ◽  
Fossil Record ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
New Genus ◽  
The Family ◽  
Two New Species ◽  
Unusual Combination ◽  
Early Paleocene ◽  
History Of

Cyriacotheriidae are a family of unusual small-bodied pantodonts known from the Paleocene of the Western Interior of North America. Cyriacotheriids possess a suite of dental characters similar to that of pantodonts (e.g., molar dilambdodonty, lingual molar hypoconulids), as well as several divergent features (e.g., molarized premolars, strong molar conules) that have been interpreted as “dermopteran-like.” the unusual combination of pantodont and dermopteran-like characters, combined with a limited fossil record, has made attempts at understanding the broader relationships of Cyriacotheriidae difficult. This paper reports on a new genus and two new species of cyriacotheriids from the Paleocene of Alberta, Canada, with both species significantly older than those of the only previously described cyriacotheriid, Cyriacotherium. Collectively, the dentitions of these new taxa exhibit derived characters seen in Cyriacotherium (e.g., robust molar conules, strong molar dilambdodonty) in addition to a number of plesiomorphies seen in more basal pantodonts (e.g., conspicuous molar entoconids, deep premolar ectoflexus) and, importantly, posterior premolars that are weakly molariform and non-dilambdodont. A phylogenetic analysis of the new cyriacotheriid, basal pantodonts, dermopterans, and dermopteran-like eutherians resulted in Cyriacotheriidae nesting within a monophyletic Pantodonta. the results strengthen previous hypotheses regarding the pantodont affinities of the family, and suggest that the dermopteran-like features seen in the more derived Cyriacotherium were acquired convergently. Although the discovery of new cyriacotheriids sheds light on the evolutionary history of the family, it cannot resolve the ongoing questions of pantodont origins; nonetheless, their discovery in strata of early Paleocene age indicates that significant parts of the evolutionary history of Cyriacotheriidae, and North American pantodonts more generally, have yet to be discovered.

scholarly journals New mid-Cretaceous cryptic slime mold beetles and the early evolution of Sphindidae (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea)

2021 ◽  
Vol 79 ◽  
pp. 587-597
Author(s):  
Yan-Da Li ◽  
Erik Tihelka ◽  
Zhen-Hua Liu ◽  
Di-Ying Huang ◽  
Chen‑Yang Cai
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Fossil Record ◽  
Slime Mold ◽  
Early Evolution ◽  
Calibration Point ◽  
Crown Group ◽  
Slime Molds ◽  
The Family ◽  
Group Members

Abstract The cryptic slime mold beetles, Sphindidae, are a moderately diverse cucujoid beetle family, whose members are obligately tied to slime molds throughout their life. The fossil record of sphindid beetles is sparse; stem-sphindids and crown-group members of uncertain systematic placement have been reported from Cretaceous ambers. Here we review the Mesozoic fossil record of Sphindidae and report a new sphindid genus and species, Trematosphindus newtonigen. et sp. nov., from Albian/Cenomanian amber from northern Myanmar (ca. 99 Ma). Trematosphindus is set apart from all other sphindids by the presence of distinct lateral cavities on the anterior pronotal angles. Our phylogenetic analysis identifies Trematosphindus as an early-diverging genus within Sphindidae, sister to the remainder of the family except Protosphindus, or Protosphindus and Odontosphindus. The new fossils provide evidence that basal crown slime mold beetles begun to diversify by the mid-Cretaceous, providing a valuable calibration point for understanding timescale of sphindid co-evolution with slime molds.

Pleuroceratos jiewenae sp. nov.: A new Cretaceous phloeostichid beetle (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea: Phloeostichidae)

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 248-259
Author(s):  
ERIK TIHELKA ◽  
DIYING HUANG ◽  
CHENYANG CAI
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Systematic Position ◽  
Disjunct Distribution ◽  
Diverse Group ◽  
Burmese Amber ◽  
Incertae Sedis ◽  
Early Diversification ◽  
The Family ◽  
Phylogenetic Affinities ◽  
A New Species

Elucidating the phylogenetic affinities of enigmatic fossils is crucial for resolving the early diversification of the superfamily Cucujoidea, a diverse group of polyphagan beetles whose relationships remain contentious. The systematic position of the Cretaceous genus Pleuroceratos known from Burmese amber has been uncertain; the genus was previously placed into Silvanidae, Sphindidae, and Cucujoidea incertae sedis. Here we describe a new species, Pleuroceratos jiewenae sp. nov., from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber and conduct a formal phylogenetic analysis to elucidate the position of the genus. We recover Pleuroceratos as nested within the family Phloeostichidae, represented in the modern fauna by four genera of fungivorous subcortical beetles with a highly disjunct distribution range. Pleuroceratos beetles are the sole fossil members of Phloeostichidae known to date and indicate that the family begun to diversify by the mid-Cretaceous.

The oldest record of window fly supports a Gondwanan origin of the family (Diptera: Scenopinidae)

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. 483-491
Author(s):  
CORENTIN JOUAULT ◽  
ANDRÉ NEL
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Record ◽  
First Record ◽  
Central American ◽  
North Central ◽  
Burmese Amber ◽  
Wind Circulation ◽  
The Family ◽  
Tethys Ocean ◽  
Aerial Transport ◽  
New Hypothesis

Palaeobiogeographic hypotheses need to be based on accurate palaeomaps and phylogenies of the concerned clades with a fossil record as complete as possible. Here we re-analyse the palaeobiogeography of the small fly family Scenopinidae, based on its first record in the mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber that we describe herein as Burmaprorates alagracilis gen. et sp. nov. and we assign to the subfamily Proratinae. At that time, the corresponding palaeobiota was an isolated island in the Southern part of the Tethys Ocean far away from the Laurasian plate and with general wind circulation unfavorable for aerial transport from Laurasia to the “Burmese Terrane”. Our results challenge and question the hypothesis of a North-Central American origin for the Scenopinidae at the beginning of the Cretaceous, and support a new hypothesis of a South Gondwanan origin.

scholarly journals A new classification of the Xanthoidea sensu lato (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura) based on phylogenetic analysis and traditional systematics and evaluation of all fossil Xanthoidea sensu lato

2006 ◽  
Vol 75 (01-02) ◽  
pp. 23-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroaki Karasawa ◽  
Carrie E. Schweitzer
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Fossil Record ◽  
Family Status ◽  
New Classification ◽  
New Family ◽  
The Family ◽  
Family Level

A phylogenetic analysis was conducted including representatives from all recognized extant and extinct families of the Xanthoidea sensu lato, resulting in one new family, Hypothalassiidae. Four xanthoid families are elevated to superfamily status, resulting in Carpilioidea, Pilumnoidoidea, Eriphioidea, Progeryonoidea, and Goneplacoidea, and numerous subfamilies are elevated to family status. The Mathildellidae is moved from the Goneplacidae to the Portunoidea. Diagnoses for all superfamilies and families discussed herein are provided, embracing characters typically used by biologists as well as readily fossilized features of the dorsal carapace, sternum, abdomen, and chelipeds. All genera known from the fossil record at one time referred to the Xanthidae sensu lato, Xanthoidea sensu lato, or Goneplacidae sensu latowere evaluated as to their family level placement and as a result, the family-level placement of many of these genera has been changed herein. Balcacarcinusnew substitute name, is provided herein for BittneriaSchweitzer and Karasawa, 2004.

Strepsiptera and triungula in Cretaceous amber

2005 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valerie Schawaroch ◽  
Jeyaraney Kathirithamby ◽  
David Grimaldi
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
New Jersey ◽  
Early Cretaceous ◽  
Late Cretaceous ◽  
Adult Male ◽  
Late Jurassic ◽  
Sister Group ◽  
Baltic Amber ◽  
Burmese Amber ◽  
The Family

AbstractThe first definitive strepsipteran is reported from the Cretaceous, named Cretostylops engeli, n.gen., n.sp., which is an adult male in amber from the mid-Cretaceous (approximately Cenomanian) of northern Myanmar (Burma). A triungulin from the Late Cretaceous (Campanian, c. 80 myo) of Manitoba, Canada is possibly a strepsipteran. The triungulin is described in detail but its morphology does not conform to any known clade of Recent strepsipterans. Other Cretaceous triungula reported here are in Burmese amber and are probably of the family Rhipiphoridae (Coleoptera), and bizarre (possibly coleopteran) triungula in mid-Cretaceous (Turonian, c. 90 myo) amber from New Jersey, USA. Phylogenetic analysis confirms the primitive position of Cretostylops among families of Strepsiptera, but it is not as primitive as Protoxenos in Eocene Baltic amber. Protoxenos and Cretostylops are still too highly modified to address the controversial relationships of Strepsiptera among insect orders, but the generalized structure of the mandible is inconsistent with the hypothesis that this order is the sister group to Diptera or closely related to Mecopterida. Phylogeny of living and Recent Strepsiptera suggests an origin of the order in the Early Cretaceous or Late Jurassic, which is also inconsistent with this order being a sister group to the much older Diptera.

scholarly journals A new lineage of Cretaceous jewel wasps (Chalcidoidea: Diversinitidae)

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e4633 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Haas ◽  
Roger A. Burks ◽  
Lars Krogmann
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Record ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Phylogenetic Position ◽  
Burmese Amber ◽  
Phylogenetic Placement ◽  
New Family ◽  
Early Diversification ◽  
The Family ◽  
Family Level ◽  
Cladistic Analyses

Jewel wasps (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) are extremely species-rich today, but have a sparse fossil record from the Cretaceous, the period of their early diversification. Three genera and three species,Diversinitus attenboroughigen. & sp. n., Burminata caputaeriagen. & sp. n. andGlabiala barbatagen. & sp. n. are described in the family Diversinitidae fam. n., from Lower Cretaceous Burmese amber. Placement in Chalcidoidea is supported by the presence of multiporous plate sensilla on the antennal flagellum and a laterally exposed prepectus. The new taxa can be excluded from all extant family level chalcidoid lineages by the presence of multiporous plate sensilla on the first flagellomere in both sexes and lack of any synapomorphies. Accordingly, a new family is proposed for the fossils and its probable phylogenetic position within Chalcidoidea is discussed. Morphological cladistic analyses of the new fossils within the Heraty et al. (2013) dataset did not resolve the phylogenetic placement of Diversinitidae, but indicated its monophyly. Phylogenetically relevant morphological characters of the new fossils are discussed with reference to Cretaceous and extant chalcidoid taxa. Along with mymarid fossils and a few species of uncertain phylogenetic placement, the newly described members of Diversinitidae are among the earliest known chalcidoids and advance our knowledge of their Cretaceous diversity.

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