The first skiff beetle (Coleoptera: Myxophaga: Hydroscaphidae) from Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota

2012 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
pp. 116-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chenyang Cai ◽  
Andrew E. Z. Short ◽  
Diying Huang

The first skiff beetle fossil and earliest myxophagan,Hydroscapha jeholensisn. sp., is described and illustrated on the basis of a single specimen from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation at Huangbanjigou of Beipiao City, Liaoning Province, Northeastern China. Based on the combination of diagnostic characters of this specimen (e.g., minute and fusiform body, short elytra, tapered abdomen, separated meso- and metacoxae, and 3-segmented tarsi), we suggest that it is a definitive representative of Hydroscaphidae belonging to the widespread hydroscaphid genusHydroscaphaLeConte, 1874. It also represents the only impression fossil of the beetle suborder Myxophaga. This find displays great significance for shedding light on the preservation of the minute aquatic beetles, since it is the first well-preserved impression fossil reported for the suborder, rather than amber inclusion.

Zootaxa ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 3504 (1) ◽  
pp. 56 ◽  
Author(s):  
YAPING CAI ◽  
YUNYUN ZHAO ◽  
CHUNGKUN SHIH ◽  
DONG REN

A new genus Mirabythus Cai, Shih et Ren, gen. nov. (type species, M. lechrius Cai, Shih et Ren, sp. nov.) and M. liae Cai, Shih et Ren, sp. nov. from the family Scolebythidae are described from the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation of Huangbanjigou Village, Liaoning Province, northeastern China. These findings extend the existence of Scolebythidae to the Early Cretaceous of China, while providing evidence to support Engel and Grimaldi’s hypothesis that the family was widely distributed throughout the Cretaceous. Our two new species with clear venation also provide a comprehensive understanding of the venational changes from the Early Cretaceous to now. A key to the fossil and extant genera of Scolebythidae is provided.


Zootaxa ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 2676 (1) ◽  
pp. 45 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHANG-FU ZHOU

A new eucryptodiran turtle from the Jiufotang Formation of Lamadong, Jianchang County, represents the third turtle taxon, Liaochelys jianchangensis gen. et sp. nov., from the Jehol Biota of western Liaoning Province, China. This taxon is diagnosed by a character combination including a midline contact of the prefrontals, vertebrals wider than long, third costals strongly expanded distally, and a medial contact of the eighth costals. A preliminary cladistic analysis places Liaochelys jianchangensis along the phylogenetic stem of Cryptodira in a position more derived than the taxa, Manchurochelys manchoukuoensis and Ordosemys liaoxiensis, known from the underlying Yixian Formation. This discovery opens a new window into the osteology and evolution of primitive eucryptodiran turtles.


ZooKeys ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 893 ◽  
pp. 115-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yimo Wang ◽  
Mei Wang ◽  
ChungKun Shih ◽  
Alexandr P. Rasnitsyn ◽  
Jun Yao ◽  
...  

A new sawfly of Megalodontesidae, Jibaissodes peichenaesp. nov., is described from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of Northeastern China. It is established mainly based on the pectinate antenna comprising 42 flagellomeres and the proximal 28 bearing apical rami, which gradually shorten in length toward the apex of the flagellum. The pterostigma of the forewing is infuscated apically and on the hind wing, vein 1-Rs is nearly equal to 1r-m and slightly shorter than 1-M. The first tergum is widely excised posteriorly and roundly protruding laterally alike in Megalodontes. This find supports that pectinate antennae in extant sawflies of Megalodontesidae originated at least during or before the Early Cretaceous.


Zootaxa ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 2872 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
JIŘÍ KOLIBÁČ ◽  
DI-YING HUANG

Mathesius liaoningensis, a new genus and species of Cleroidea, probably relative of clerid or thaneroclerid branches of the superfamily, is described from the Lower Cretaceous; it belongs among the oldest and the best preserved cleroid fossils that have been known so far. The unique specimen was found in Yixian Formation (ca. 125 Ma) near Huangbanjigou Village, Beipiao City, Liaoning Province, NE China and belongs to the famous Chinese Jehol Biota. A classification of Mathesius liaoningensis gen. et sp. nov. within Cleroidea is based on cucujiform aedeagus with distinct medial apodeme (strut) and probably paired struts of the phallobase, pentamerous mesoand metatarsi, narrowly separated proand mesocoxae, metacoxae extending laterally to meet elytra. A possible relationship with the clerid or thaneroclerid branches is based on predacious mandibles, absence of large spines in tibiae, lobes at least in mesoand metatarsomeres 2–3 (probably 1–4), probably six visible abdominal ventrites, and shape of body. With the exception of the aforementioned features, the well-preserved fossil shows interesting morphological characters which are figured in detail and discussed in the context of morphology of some recent cucujiform families.


Zootaxa ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 2534 (1) ◽  
pp. 57 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHANG-FU ZHOU

Within the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota of China, the turtle Manchurochelys manchoukuoensis Endo & Shikama, 1942 was one of the first discovered tetrapod fossils, but no additional information on this enigmatic taxon has become available during the past half century since its discovery. Here, a new turtle skeleton from the Yixian Formation of western Liaoning Province is identified as referable to M. manchoukuoensis on the basis of an elongate oval shell, long and narrow second to fourth vertebral scutes, and two suprapygals, of which the second is much larger than the first. This specimen therefore represents the second specimen of M. manchoukuoensis, the holotype of which was probably lost during World War II. This discovery not only provides essential material that allows the validity of M. manchoukuoensis to be tested, but also substantially expands understanding of its bony anatomy, especially with regard to cranial morphology. Among other features, M. manchoukuoensis is characterized by a postorbital that does not contact the quadrate/squamosal and a deep temporal emargination, which support a close relationship with Sinemys spp. and distinguish it from the co-existing Ordosemys liaoxiensis. A cladistic analysis that includes M. manchoukuoensis further supports the hypothesis that Sinemydidae is a monophyletic group that includes Sinemys spp. and Dracochelys bicuspis.


Zootaxa ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 3273 (1) ◽  
pp. 63 ◽  
Author(s):  
WEITING ZHANG ◽  
JINGJING SONG ◽  
YUNZHI YAO ◽  
DONG REN

Venustsalda locella gen. et sp. nov. is described and illustrated from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation at Huang-banjigou Village, Liaoning Province, China. The new genus is established based on its unusual six cells on the membrane, with the second cell smallest.


PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e7846 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis M. Chiappe ◽  
Meng Qingjin ◽  
Francisco Serrano ◽  
Trond Sigurdsen ◽  
Wang Min ◽  
...  

During the last decade, several Bohaiornis-like enantiornithine species—and numerous specimens—have been recognized from the celebrated Jehol Biota of northwestern China. In this paper, we describe the anatomy of another “bohaiornithid” species from the 125 million-year-old Yixian Formation of Liaoning Province, China. The new taxon differs from previously recognized “bohaiornithids” on a number of characters from the forelimb and shoulder girdle. We also provide a new phylogenetic framework for enantiornithine birds, which questions the monophyly of the previously recognized bohaiornithid clade and highlights ongoing challenges for resolving enantiornithine interrelationships. Additionally, we offer the first assessment of the flight properties of Bohaiornis-like enantiornithines. Our results indicate that while “bohaiornithids” were morphologically suited for flying through continuous flapping, they would have been unable to sustain prolonged flights. Such findings expand the flight strategies previously known for enantiornithines and other early birds.


2013 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 213-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chenyang Cai ◽  
Diying Huang

Mesocoprophilus clavatus gen. et sp.n., a new rove beetle belonging to the Recent subfamily Oxytelinae, is described and illustrated on the basis of a well-preserved specimen from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation near Huangbanjigou, Beipiao City, Liaoning Province, Northeast China. This new genus can be placed in the extant tribe Coprophilini as supported by its general habitus, sub-contiguous mesocoxae, 5-segmented metatarsi, and abdominal segments III–VII each with two pairs of paratergites. In addition, it displays some features resembling the more basal tribe Euphaniini, including clavate antennae and short and poorly-sclerotized abdominal sternite II.


2012 ◽  
Vol 86 (3) ◽  
pp. 508-512 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanli Yue ◽  
György Makranczy ◽  
Dong Ren

A new species of the staphylinid subfamily Oxytelinae is described and figured from a series of well-preserved compression fossils of the Yixian Formation (Early Cretaceous), Beipiao City, Liaoning Province, northeastern China. The species is placed in the recent genusAnotylusThomson, 1859 based on typical morphological features for the genus as well as secondary sexual characters. The strong projection of the anterior pronotal angles is a feature also possessed by males of several recent Neotropical taxa in the genus. This is the earliest fossil rove beetle with clearly demonstrable sexual dimorphism.


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