Mesodiphthera Tillyard, 1919, from the Late Triassic of Queensland, the oldest cicada (Hemiptera: Cicadomorpha: Cicadoidea: Tettigarctidae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4567 (2) ◽  
pp. 358 ◽  
Author(s):  
KEVIN J. LAMBKIN
Keyword(s):  
Basal Cell ◽  
Structural Diversity ◽  
Wide Distribution ◽  
Nodal Line ◽  
Late Triassic ◽  
Type Specimens ◽  
Fossil Insect ◽  
The Family ◽  
New Material ◽  
Cross Vein

New specimens of its type species from the Queensland Late Triassic (Norian) (~227–~208.5 Ma) fossil insect locality at Dinmore have revealed that the old and obscure Late Triassic genus Mesodiphthera Tillyard, 1919, from nearby Denmark Hill, is a tettigarctid cicada, the earliest record of the family and the oldest cicada. The genus is distinguished by the combined presence of three characters: the primary forks of R and M at about the same level, midway between the basal cell and the nodal line; RA2 with four or five terminal branches; and the inter-medial cross-vein backwardly inclined, running between M2 and M3. Of the three species originally ascribed to Mesodiphthera by Tillyard, only its type, M. grandis Tillyard, 1919, is retained in the genus. The other two species differ significantly from the type and are transferred to Tardilly gen. nov., which is similar to Mesodiphthera in the more or less aligned primary forks of R and M placed at about midway between the basal cell and the nodal line, and the backwardly inclined inter-medial cross-vein which runs between M2 and M3. It differs, however, in its smaller size, broader costal space, three-branched M3+4, and differently shaped CuA and CuA2. The new material, all of which is of M. grandis, provides a complete picture of the shape, colour and venation of its tegmen, whereas Tardilly prosboloides (Tillyard) comb. nov., 1922 and Tardilly dunstani (Tillyard) comb. nov., 1922 are still known only from their poorly preserved type specimens. Mesodiphthera and Tardilly exhibit a number of presumed plesiomorphies, viz the costal space much wider than the CuA cell, the basal cell strongly narrowed apically, and the post-nodal cross-vein series closer to the nodal line than the apex, which place it in the probable paraphyletic subfamily Cicadoprosbolinae. A more informed assessment of their relationships, however, must await a comprehensive analysis of the now 29 fossil genera of the family. The Tettigarctidae were the only cicadas of the Mesozoic and the discovery in the Triassic of Australia of Mesodiphthera and Tardilly clearly distinct from the 24 previously known Mesozoic genera, further demonstrates the family’s high degree of structural diversity, and emphasises its almost world-wide distribution in that Era. 

A new genus of ichthyosaur from the Late Triassic Pardonet Formation of British Columbia: bridging the Triassic Jurassic gap

2001 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 983-1002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth L Nicholls ◽  
Makoto Manabe
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Type Species ◽  
New Genus ◽  
Late Triassic ◽  
Unique Combination ◽  
Type Specimens ◽  
Nomen Dubium ◽  
The Family ◽  
Large Diamond

Both the genus Shastasaurus and the family Shastasauridae have long been hard to define due to the fragmentary nature of the type specimens. Consequently, recent interpretations of the genus have been based almost entirely on Shastasaurus neoscapularis from the Late Triassic Pardonet Formation of British Columbia. Two new specimens of this taxon, from Pink Mountain, British Columbia, demonstrate that it does not belong in the genus Shastasaurus. This paper describes the new specimens, and refers the species to Metashastasaurus gen nov. Post-cranially, the skeleton of Metashastasaurus resembles that of shastasaurids, differing primarily only in the shape of the scapula and fibula. However, the skull has a unique combination of characters, including large diamond-shaped frontals that enter the supratemporal fenestrae, and very narrow posterior extensions of the nasals, which contact the postfrontals. It also differs from the skull of Shastasaurus in the presence of both a parietal ridge and postparietal shelf. This is a combination of derived characters previously known only in Jurassic forms. The front limb has four proximal carpals and four digits, indicating that previous reconstructions were based on incomplete material. Shastasaurus pacificus Merriam 1895, the type species of the genus Shastasaurus, must be considered a nomen dubium, making the genus Shastasaurus invalid. Until this problem is clarified, the use of the generic name Shastasaurus should be restricted to Merriam's type specimens, of which only Shastasaurus alexandrae and Shastasaurus osmonti are based on adequate material.

Taphonomic bias and the evolutionary history of the family Cidaridae (Echinodermata: Echinoidea)

Paleobiology ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin J. Greenstein
Keyword(s):  
Type Species ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Middle Triassic ◽  
Upper Jurassic ◽  
Late Triassic ◽  
Type Specimens ◽  
Fossil Material ◽  
Group I ◽  
The Family ◽  
History Of

The class Echinoidea apparently originated during the Ordovician Period and diversified slowly through the Paleozoic Era. The clade then mushroomed in diversity beginning in Late Triassic time and continued expanding into the present. Although this evolutionary history is generally accepted, the taphonomic overprint affecting it has not been explored. To gain a more accurate perception of the evolutionary history of the group, I have compared the diversity history of the family Cidaridae (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) with the preservational style of fossil type species using literature-derived data. The Cidaridae apparently originated in Middle Triassic time and diversified slowly through the Neocomian (Early Cretaceous). Diversity was maintained through the remainder of the Cretaceous and Tertiary Periods, reflecting the diversity history of the subclass. Characterization of the preservational style of type fossil material for the family revealed the following breakdown of preservational states: 60% of species were described on the basis of disarticulated skeletal material, primarily spines; 20% based on intact coronas denuded of spines, apical system, Aristotle's lantern and peristomial plates; 10% based on large coronal fragments; and 10% based on other skeletal elements. This distribution may represent the effect of a disarticulation threshold on the condition of echinoid carcasses before final burial and suggests that preservation of intact specimens may be very unlikely. For cidaroids, previous work has suggested that this threshold is likely to be reached after 7 days of decay.Comparison of the diversity history of the Cidaridae with the preservation data reveals that characteristic patterns of taphonomic overprint have affected the group since its origination in Middle Triassic time, and the nature of that overprint has changed over time: the early diversity history of the group is characterized by occurrences of fragmented fossil material, with spines predominant; further radiation of the group in mid-Jurassic time coincided with an increase in modes of preservation, ranging between exceptionally well-preserved material and disarticulated skeletal elements. Finally, type material is more rarely described from younger stratigraphic intervals (Miocene–Pleistocene) and consists predominantly of disarticulated skeletal elements and coronal fragments larger than an interambulacrum in size. Intact, denuded coronas are noticeably lacking.The number of type species of Cidaridae described in each stratigraphic interval has not been consistent during post-Paleozoic time. Middle Triassic, Malm (Upper Jurassic), Senonian (Upper Cretaceous) and Eocene series yielded significantly (α = .05) higher numbers of type specimens per million years, while the Lias (Lower Jurassic), Dogger (Mid-Jurassic), Lower Cretaceous and Paleocene yielded significantly (α = .05) lower numbers of type specimens per million years. This may be the result of a combination of taxonomic, sampling, and geographical biases.

Palaeozoic and Mesozoic hemiptera (Insecta)

1956 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 165 ◽  
Author(s):  
JW Evans
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Wide Distribution ◽  
Upper Permian ◽  
New Genus And Species ◽  
Type Specimens ◽  
New Family ◽  
South Wales ◽  
The Family

New species of Triassic Homoptera and Heteroptera from the Brookvale series of New South Wales and Mt. Crosby, Queensland, are described, one homopteron from the Upper Permian of Warner's Bay, N.S.W., and Homoptera previously recorded from Palaeozoic and Mesozoic strata in Australia and elsewhere are reviewed. New illustrations, made from type specimens, are given for some Australian species. Representatives of the family Scytinopteridae, previously known only from Permian strata, are recorded from the Triassic. Two forewings of uncertain affinities, but having venational features similar to hylicids, are ascribed to species in genera placed in a new family, the Hylicellidae. For leaf-hoppers which are regarded as transitional between the Palaeozoic and Mesozoic faunas, a new family, the Stenoviciidae, is proposed, and another new family, the Chiliocyclidae, is proposed for a group of Mesozoic leaf-hoppers of wide distribution. A forewing from the Triassic of Queensland is identified as that of a eurymelid and another as a cicadellid. The earliest undoubted cercopid, so far recorded, is described from the Triassic; a new family, the Eoscarterellidae, is defined to comprise insects of probable cercopoid affinities, and the family Dysmorphoptilidae is transferred to the Cercopoidea. As the genus Palaeontina Butler is considered not to be a homopteron, a new family name, the Cicadomorphidae, is proposed for large Homoptera with cicada-like wings, previously recorded only from the Jurassic of Europe and which formerly have been included in the family Palaeontinidae. A new genus and species belonging to the Cicadomorphidae is described from the Triassic of New South Wales. The relationships of a new family, the Cicadoprosbolidae, and of the Mesogereonidae are discussed and both are considered to be allied to the Cicadidae. Two new psylloids are described and also an aphid, the latter being the first representative of the Aphidoidea to be recorded from Triassic strata. No new fulgoroids are described but problems associated with the determination of fulgoroid venation are discussed. The genus Actinoscytim Tillyard is transferred from the Homoptera to the Heteroptera and together with three new genera ascribed to a new family, the Actinoscytinidae. The family Ipsviciidae, formerly regarded as belonging to the Homoptera is also removed to the Heteroptera. The family Dunstaniidae is reviewed in the light of a re-examination of type specimens. Fossil fragments, poorly-preserved specimens, and wings of uncertain position which have at some time been referred to the Homoptera, are listed, and some are discussed. Possible derivations and interrelationships of the various major groups of Homoptera are indicated by means of a chart.

scholarly journals A Review of Necrotauliids from the Triassic/Jurassic of England (Trichoptera: Necrotauliidae)

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard S. Kelly ◽  
Andrew J. Ross ◽  
Robert A. Coram
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Type Species ◽  
New Genus ◽  
Type Locality ◽  
Late Triassic ◽  
Type Specimens ◽  
The Family ◽  
The Uk ◽  
A New Species ◽  
Paraphyletic Assemblage

Species previously attributed to Necrotauliidae are revised from the Late Triassic and Early Jurassic of England based on examination of type specimens and non-type material. The necrotauliids have been considered as a basal family of caddisflies (Trichoptera) or as a paraphyletic assemblage of stem-amphiesmenopterans. Herein a new genus, Austaulius, is erected which includes all Lilstock Formation∖Lower Lias material from England; the previously described species are synonymized with A. furcatus and a new species, A. haustrum, is described from the Dorset Coast, the holotype of which preserves synapomorphic traits of the Trichoptera not previously described suggesting that the family is trichopteran. The type genus remains Necrotaulius and type species N. parvulus (Geinitz, 1884) from the type locality of Dobbertin, Germany. One species of Necrotaulius is represented in the UK, N. parvulus, which is found in the Upper Lias.

Revision of the Hylicellidae of the Late Triassic of Queensland (Hemiptera: Cicadomorpha: Hylicelloidea)

Zootaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4790 (3) ◽  
pp. 525-539
Author(s):  
KEVIN J. LAMBKIN
Keyword(s):  
Basal Cell ◽  
Dominant Species ◽  
Single Point ◽  
Wing Shape ◽  
Late Triassic ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Significant Element ◽  
Fossil Insect ◽  
Partial Fusion ◽  
Generic Composition

This extinct cicadomorphan family Hylicellidae was a significant element of the Late Triassic (Norian) hemipteran fauna of south-eastern Queensland, represented by the tegmina of five monotypic genera from the fossil insect localities at Mount Crosby, Denmark Hill and Dinmore. Of the five, Mesothymbris Evans, 1956, from Mount Crosby, has previously been re-examined. The present work revises the remaining four genera: Hylicella Evans, 1956, with Hylicella colorata Evans, 1956, Mount Crosby; Crosbella Evans, 1956 (= Mesocicadella Evans, 1956, syn. nov.), with Crosbella elongata Evans, 1956 (= Crosbella alata Evans, 1956, syn. nov. = Mesocicadella venosa Evans, 1956, syn. nov. = Mesocicadella punctata Evans, 1961, syn. nov.), Mount Crosby; Triassoscelis Evans, 1956, with Triassoscelis anomala Evans, 1956, Mount Crosby; and Mesocixiodes Tillyard, 1922, with Mesocixiodes termioneura Tillyard, 1922 (= Mesocixiodes brachyclada Tillyard, 1922, syn. nov.), Denmark Hill, Dinmore. The Hylicellidae remains poorly defined as is its generic composition, however, the four Queensland Triassic genera are quite distinct. Hylicella is distinguished by the partial fusion of CuA1 with M3+4, and the very large intra-medial cell, and Crosbella and Triassoscelis by the peculiar parallelogram-like CuA1 cell and the widened peripheral membrane at CuA. Triassoscelis differs from Crosbella in its broader, more squat wing shape, CuA fork in line rather than proximal to the M fork, and much less proliferated apical venation. Mesocixiodes is distinguished by the alignment of the crossvein field at the claval apex to form a fairly even series of long, sub-equal apical cells. On the basis of the proliferated and variable apical venation, the presence of weakly developed costal veinlets, and the fusion of M and CuA at a single point to close the basal cell, Crosbella and Triassoscelis, are ascribed to the subfamily Vietocyclinae. The relationships of the three other Queensland genera, Hylicella, Mesocixiodes, and Mesothymbris remain obscure, and they are retained in the undefined catch-all subfamily Hylicellinae. With the exception of the hindwing, Mesojassula marginata Evans, 1956, the revision of the cicadomorphan fauna of the Mount Crosby Formation is now complete, resulting in an inventory of five species of Dysmorphoptilidae, four of Hylicellidae and two of Archijassidae, with the dysmorphoptilid Dysmorphoptiloides elongata Evans, 1956, as the dominant species. 

A new genus and species of the family Archipsyllidae (Insecta: Paraneoptera: Permopsocida) from the Late Triassic of Queensland

Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4382 (1) ◽  
pp. 192
Author(s):  
KEVIN J. LAMBKIN
Keyword(s):  
Southern Hemisphere ◽  
New Genus ◽  
First Record ◽  
Late Triassic ◽  
New Genus And Species ◽  
Fossil Insect ◽  
The Family

The dedicated collecting of Robert Knezour of Ipswich continues to uncover remarkable finds in the Late Triassic (Norian) Dinmore fossil insect locality of south-east Queensland. The latest discovery is a forewing of the extinct family Archipsyllidae, described herein as Dinmopsylla semota gen. et sp. nov., the first record of the family from the Triassic and from the southern hemisphere. 

Description of the male, redescription of the female and new records of Odo patricius Simon, 1900 (Araneae: Zoridae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 3527 (1) ◽  
pp. 79
Author(s):  
ANDRES TAUCARE-RIOS ◽  
ANTONIO D. BRESCOVIT
Keyword(s):  
South America ◽  
Central America ◽  
West Indies ◽  
Type Species ◽  
New Records ◽  
Wide Distribution ◽  
Number Of Species ◽  
The Family ◽  
New Material ◽  
America South

The family Zoridae (F.O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1893) is currently represented by 14 genera and 79 species distributed worldwide (Platnick, 2012), of which only the genera Xenoctenus Mello-Leitão, 1938 and Odo Keyserling, 1887 are present in Americas. Xenoctenus is represented by four species, all endemic to Argentina, while Odo has, so far, a total of 27 species distributed in Central America, South America, West Indies and Australia (Platnick, 2012). The type species of Odo is O. lenis Keyserling, 1887, a specimen female described from Nicaragua. The genus Odo has never been revised and given its wide distribution and number of species, it is probably a polyphyletic genus and a complete revision is required. Also, no new material of O. lenis or O. patricius has been described since 1900.

New data on the genus Malgasia (Orthoptera: Mogoplistidae) from Madagascar and Seychelles

2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 210-218
Author(s):  
A.V. Gorochov
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Type Specimens ◽  
New Material ◽  
Three New Species

Malgasia marmorata (Saussure, 1899) is redescribed on the base of the type specimens and new material. Three new species from Seychelles and Madagascar, M. seychellensis sp. nov., M. minutissima sp. nov. and M. grisea sp. nov. are described.

Early Paleozoic Hyolitha from North America: reexamination of Walcott's and Resser's type specimens

1988 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 218-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Mark Malinky
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Lower Cambrian ◽  
Type Species ◽  
New Genus ◽  
Early Paleozoic ◽  
Type Specimens ◽  
Middle Cambrian ◽  
Upper Cambrian ◽  
New Family ◽  
The Family

Concepts of the family Hyolithidae Nicholson fide Fisher and the genera Hyolithes Eichwald and Orthotheca Novak have been expanded through time to encompass a variety of morphologically dissimilar shells. The Hyolithidae is here considered to include only those hyolithid species which have a rounded (convex) dorsum; slopes on the dorsum are inflated, and the venter may be flat or slightly inflated. Hyolithes encompasses species which possess a low dorsum and a prominent longitudinal sulcus along each edge of the dorsum; the ligula is short and the apertural rim is flared. The emended concept of Orthotheca includes only those species of orthothecid hyoliths which have a subtriangular transverse outline and longitudinal lirae covering the shell on both dorsum and venter.Eighteen species of Hyolithes and one species of Orthotheca from the Appalachian region and Western Interior were reexamined in light of more modern taxonomic concepts and standards of quality for type material. Reexamination of type specimens of H. similis Walcott from the Lower Cambrian of Newfoundland, H. whitei Resser from the Lower Cambrian of Nevada, H. billingsi Walcott from the Lower Cambrian of Nevada, H. gallatinensis Resser from the Upper Cambrian of Wyoming, and H. partitus Resser from the Middle Cambrian of Alabama indicates that none of these species represents Hyolithes. Hyolithes similis is here included under the new genus Similotheca, in the new family Similothecidae. Hyolithes whitei is designated as the type species of the new genus Nevadotheca, to which H. billingsi may also belong. Hyolithes gallatinensis is referred to Burithes Missarzhevsky with question, and H. partitus may represent Joachimilites Marek. The type or types of H. attenuatus Walcott, H. cecrops Walcott, H. comptus Howell, H. cowanensis Resser, H. curticei Resser, H. idahoensis Resser, H. prolixus Resser, H. resseri Howell, H. shaleri Walcott, H. terranovicus Walcott, and H. wanneri Resser and Howell lack shells and/or other taxonomically important features such as a complete aperture, rendering the diagnoses of these species incomplete. Their names should only be used for the type specimens until better preserved topotypes become available for study. Morphology of the types of H.? corrugatus Walcott and “Orthotheca” sola Resser does not support placement in the Hyolitha; the affinities of these species are uncertain.

scholarly journals A non-destructive virtual dissection by micro-CT reveals diagnostic characters in the type specimen of Caloptilia stigmatella (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4441 (1) ◽  
pp. 137
Author(s):  
JEANNE ROBINSON ◽  
JEREMY GIBSON ◽  
HELBER ADRIÁN ARÉVALO-MALDONADO ◽  
JURATE DE PRINS ◽  
JAMES WINDMILL
Keyword(s):  
Type Specimen ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Wide Distribution ◽  
Wing Venation ◽  
Type Specimens ◽  
Unique Type ◽  
Species Groups ◽  
Primary Type ◽  
Taxonomic Studies ◽  
Non Destructive

Nearly a century ago, wing venation was introduced in gracillariid taxonomy as a means to diagnose closely related genera and species groups. Recent advances in non-destructive virtual micro-dissections suggest promising approaches with which to revisit the relevance of wing venation characters on historic primary type specimens. Many unique type specimens in Gracillariidae and other microlepidoptera groups preserved in museum collections are in poor condition, and over the course of history have suffered loss or damage to their abdomens. Consequently, genitalia morphology is not available for diagnoses and comparisons. In this paper we emphasize the need to include the type species and type specimens into the broader context of taxonomic studies on micro-moths in general and the family Gracillariidae in particular. The genus Caloptilia has a world-wide distribution and has been the subject of research for more than 200 years, yet the generic boundaries and groupings within the genus are still unresolved due to the lack of a reliable set of taxonomic characters obtained from the primary types. We describe a method of virtual descaling of the fore- and hindwings using the unset micro-moth type specimen of Caloptilia stigmatella Fabricius, 1781, in order to demonstrate that the study of historic and fragile type specimens and diagnoses of their internal morphological characters becomes possible by applying new and non-destructive technology. 

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