23 research outputs found
Preservation of three-dimensional anatomy in phosphatized fossil arthropods enriches evolutionary inference
External and internal morphological characters of extant and fossil organisms are crucial to establishing their systematic position, ecological role and evolutionary trends. The lack of internal characters and soft-tissue preservation in many arthropod fossils, however, impedes comprehensive phylogenetic analyses and species descriptions according to taxonomic standards for Recent organisms. We found well-preserved three-dimensional anatomy in mineralized arthropods from Paleogene fissure fillings and demonstrate the value of these fossils by utilizing digitally reconstructed anatomical structure of a hister beetle. The new anatomical data facilitate a refinement of the species diagnosis and allowed us to reject a previous hypothesis of close phylogenetic relationship to an extant congeneric species. Our findings suggest that mineralized fossils, even those of macroscopically poor preservation, constitute a rich but yet largely unexploited source of anatomical data for fossil arthropods
First record and a new species of the fossil dragonfly genus Proinogomphus (Odonata: Liassogomphidae) from the Early Jurassic of Bascharage in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
Bechly, Günter (2018): First record and a new species of the fossil dragonfly genus Proinogomphus (Odonata: Liassogomphidae) from the Early Jurassic of Bascharage in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Zootaxa 4450 (1): 108-114, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4450.1.
Pseudopalaeodysagrion Bechly & Velten 2023, n. gen.
<i>Pseudopalaeodysagrion</i> n. gen. <p> <b>Type species.</b> <i>P. youlini</i> Zheng <i>et al.</i>, 2017</p> <p> <b>Revised diagnosis.</b> Same as type species since monotypic. Differing from <i>Palaeodysagrion</i> in the following characters: less dense wing venation; only 5 postnodal crossveins (vs 17); pterostigma very short and covering only a single cell (vs elongate and covering 3 cells); IR1 very short with a single row of cells between it and RP1 and RP2 respectively (vs very long IR1 with 2 rows of cells between it and RP1 and RP2 respectively); subnodus transverse (vs oblique); short bridge space (vs elongate bridge space); only 1 crossvein between RP1+2 and IR2 (vs 6); cells in postdiscoidal space more narrow, more elongate, and fewer in number; cells in space between MP and CuA more elongate and strongly pentagonal (vs higher and more rectangular); CuA much shorter; cubital crossing (CuP) situated more basal from arculus. Discoidal cell elongate and rectangular (much more elongate than in <i>Electrodysagrion</i> and <i>Burmadysagrion</i>, similar to <i>Pseudopalaeodysagrion</i>).</p> <p> <b>Etymology.</b> The genus name refers to the assumed similarity of the wing base with the genus <i>Palaeodysagrion</i>.</p>Published as part of <i>Bechly, Günter & Velten, Jürgen, 2023, A Revised Diagnosis of Palaeodysagrion cretacicus Zheng et al., 2016 (Insecta: Odonata) from mid-Cretaceous Burmese Amber, with erection of a new genus of fossil damselflies, pp. 547-556 in Zootaxa 5263 (4)</i> on page 554, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5263.4.6, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/7835979">http://zenodo.org/record/7835979</a>
Palaeodysagrion cretacicus Zheng 2016
<p> <b> <i>Palaeodysagrion cretacicus</i> Zheng</b> <i>et al.</i>, <b>2016</b></p> <p>(Figures 1–9)</p> <p> <b>Holotype.</b> NIGP163546 (basal third of a hind wing). Since the holotype shows sufficient characters to distinguish it from <i>P. youlini</i> we see no necessity to apply to ICZN for designation of the new specimen as a neotype.</p> <p> <b>New specimen.</b> Relatively complete specimen without number in the private collection of Hans Georg Müller (Gelsenkirchen, Germany). Since it is not a type specimen, we see no problem with this deposition in a private collection.</p> <p> <b>Locality and horizon.</b> Burmese amber (Hukawng Valley, Kachin State, Myanmar). Mid-Cretaceous: earliest Cenomanian.</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis.</b> Same as for genus, since monotypic after the removal of <i>P. youlini</i> to a new genus (see below).</p> <p> <b>Description of new material.</b> The new specimen is preserved in a 31 gram amber piece of 67*50* 15 mm size with multiple syninclusions of other arthropods. The right pair of wings is completely preserved (forewing above, hind wing below in the photos), while the left pair of wings is broken at the base and missing. The wing tips are darker coloured from apex to the level of basal end of pterostigma (Figure 9), which clearly represents an original colour pattern. The pterostigmata have no discernible microsculpture. The wing veins (including crossveins) are equipped with medium length spines.</p> <p>Body (Figure 2). Head transverse as in Zygoptera (left eye fragmentary); prothorax small and saddle-shaped; pterothorax skewed as in Zygoptera, interpleural suture seems complete; base of abdomen (segments I–III) without visible secondary genital apparatus, but rest of abdomen missing; all six legs complete and very long, long femoral and tibial spines, femora distinctly longer than tibiae (pro-, meso- and metafemora 2.9, 3.2 and 3.9 mm, pro-, meso- and metatibiae 2.9, 2.9 and 4.6 mm), forelegs with cleaning comb along tip of tibia, tarsi 3-segmented, the tarsal claws are not totally and clearly visible but may lack a hook.</p> <p>Forewing (Figures 4–6). Intact, hyaline, 25.0 mm long and 5.1 mm wide at widest point; only 2 primary antenodal crossveins ax1 and ax2 1.4 mm apart; ax2 aligned with arculus; distance between wing base and arculus or nodus 3.0 or 6.6 mm respectively; nodus at 26.4 % of wing length, of normal structure with oblique nodal and less oblique subnodal veinlets aligned; 17 postnodal and 16 postsubnodal crossveins, aligned except for the distal 3–4; pterostigma 3.5 cells and 1.8 mm long, 0.6 mm wide; pterostigmal brace oblique; 8 crossveins distal of pterostigma; basal cell free; arculus angled; discoidal cell 1.4 mm long and 0.3–0.6 mm wide, subrectangular, and free; subdiscoidal cell free; RP midfork (branching RP1+2 and RP3+4) 6.0 mm distal of wing base and 1.3 basal of subnodus; bridge space free; IR2 aligned with subnodus; branching of RP1 and RP2 6.3 mm distal of subnodus; IR1 long and zigzagged, originating 3 cells distal of RP fork; distally 2 rows of cells between RP1 and IR1 and between IR1 and RP2; distally 2–3 rows of cells between RP2 and IR2, and 2–4 rows between IR2 and RP3+4; no lestine oblique vein ‘O’ between RP2 and IR2; MA reaching to distal end of MA distally zigzagged and parallel to RP3+4 with a single row of cells between them; about 9 cells between MA and MP along hind margin; MP without curvature at origin at discoidal cell; CuA zigzagged and parallel to MP, with a single row of cells in the field between CuA and hind margin; anal crossing (CuP) 0.4 mm basal of arculus; petiole 2.2 mm long; no accessory intercalary veins.</p> <p>Hind wing (Figures 7–8). Intact, hyaline, 24.6 mm long and 4.7 mm wide at widest point; only 2 primary antenodal crossveins ax1 and ax2 1.5 mm apart; ax2 slightly distal of arculus; distance between wing base and arculus or nodus 3.0 or 6.7 mm respectively; distance between ax2 and nodus 5.1 mm (in holotype 5.8 mm); nodus at 27.2 % of wing length, of normal structure with oblique nodal and less oblique subnodal veinlets aligned; 15 postnodal and 14 postsubnodal crossveins, more or less aligned with each other; pterostigma 3 cells and 2.3 mm long, 0.6 mm wide; pterostigmal brace oblique; 11 crossveins distal of pterostigma; basal cell free; arculus angled and sectors of arculus (RP and MA) widely separated at origin; discoidal cell 1.6 mm long and 0.26-0.48 mm wide, subrectangular, and free, much more elongate than in forewing; subdiscoidal cell free; RP midfork (branching RP1 +2 and RP3 +4) 5.9 mm distal of wing base and 1.3 basal of subnodus; bridge space free; IR2 aligned with subnodus; branching of RP1 and RP2 5.2 mm distal of subnodus; IR1 long and zigzagged, originating 3 cells distal of RP fork; distally 2 rows of cells between RP1 and IR1 and between IR1 and RP2; distally 2–3 rows of cells between RP2 and IR2, and 2-4 rows between IR2 and RP3 +4; no lestine oblique vein ‘O’ between RP2 and IR2; MA distally zigzagged and parallel to RP3 +4 with a single row of cells between them; 12 cells between MA and MP along hind margin; MP without curvature at origin at discoidal cell; CUA zigzagged and parallel to MP, with a single row of cells in the field between CuA and hind margin; anal crossing (CuP) 0.35 mm basal of arculus; petiole 2.3 mm long; no accessory intercalary veins.</p>Published as part of <i>Bechly, Günter & Velten, Jürgen, 2023, A Revised Diagnosis of Palaeodysagrion cretacicus Zheng et al., 2016 (Insecta: Odonata) from mid-Cretaceous Burmese Amber, with erection of a new genus of fossil damselflies, pp. 547-556 in Zootaxa 5263 (4)</i> on pages 549-551, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5263.4.6, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/7835979">http://zenodo.org/record/7835979</a>
Palaeodysagrion Zheng 2016
<p> <b> <i>Palaeodysagrion</i> Zheng</b> <i>et al.</i>, <b>2016</b></p> <p> <b>Type species.</b> <i>Palaeodysagrion cretacicus</i> Zheng <i>et al.</i>, 2016</p> <p> <b>Revised diagnosis.</b> Wing length about 25 mm; dense wing venation with numerous cells; 15–17 postnodal crossveins that are well-aligned with the postsubnodals; pterostigma elongate and covering 3.5 cells; both side of pterostigma parallel and of normal obliquity; pterostigmal brace present; IR1 very long with 2 rows of cells between it and RP1 and RP2 respectively; nodus (n) in a basal position at about 26–27 % of wing length; nodus and subnodus oblique; base of IR2 aligned with subnodus (sn); no lestine oblique vein ‘O’ between RP2 and IR2; midfork one cell (elongate bridge space) basal of nodus, closer to nodus than to arculus; 6–7 crossveins between RP1+2 and IR2; cells in postdiscoidal space numerous, short and high; cells in space between MP and CuA numerous, short, high (transverse), and only weakly pentagonal; CuA very long; cubito-anal space with a single row of cells (slightly widened in hind wing); cubital crossing (CuP) oblique and situated close to arculus; ax2 aligned with arculus in forewing but slightly distal of arculus in hind wing; discoidal cell elongate (even more so in hind wing) with distal side somewhat longer than basal side (esp. in fore wing); no accessory antenodal crossveins.</p>Published as part of <i>Bechly, Günter & Velten, Jürgen, 2023, A Revised Diagnosis of Palaeodysagrion cretacicus Zheng et al., 2016 (Insecta: Odonata) from mid-Cretaceous Burmese Amber, with erection of a new genus of fossil damselflies, pp. 547-556 in Zootaxa 5263 (4)</i> on page 549, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5263.4.6, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/7835979">http://zenodo.org/record/7835979</a>
A re-description of the fossil damselfly Eolestes syntheticus Cockerell, 1940 (Odonata: Zygoptera: Eolestidae n. fam.) with description of new taxa from the Eocene of North America
Greenwalt, Dale E., Bechly, Günter (2014): A re-description of the fossil damselfly Eolestes syntheticus Cockerell, 1940 (Odonata: Zygoptera: Eolestidae n. fam.) with description of new taxa from the Eocene of North America. Zootaxa 3887 (2): 138-156, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3887.2.
Eolestes Cockerell 1940
Genus <i>Eolestes</i> Cockerell, 1940 <p>(Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)</p> <p> <b>Type species.</b> <i>Eolestes syntheticus</i> Cockerell, 1940.</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis.</b> Same as for monotypic family.</p> <p> <b>Comment.</b> This genus should not be confused with the invalid junior homonym <i>Eolestes</i> Bown & Schankler, 1982 for an Eocene insectivorous mammal, which was replaced by the valid name <i>Auroralestes</i> Holroyd, Bown & Schankler, 2004.</p>Published as part of <i>Greenwalt, Dale E. & Bechly, Günter, 2014, A re-description of the fossil damselfly Eolestes syntheticus Cockerell, 1940 (Odonata: Zygoptera: Eolestidae n. fam.) with description of new taxa from the Eocene of North America, pp. 138-156 in Zootaxa 3887 (2)</i> on page 140, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3887.2.2, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/251053">http://zenodo.org/record/251053</a>
First Record of Anisoptera (Insecta: Odonata) from mid-Cretaceous Burmese Amber
Schädel, Mario, Bechly, Günter (2016): First Record of Anisoptera (Insecta: Odonata) from mid-Cretaceous Burmese Amber. Zootaxa 4103 (6): 537-549, DOI: http://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4103.6.
Aeshninae Leach 1815
Subfamily Aeshninae Leach, 1815 Tribe Allopetaliini Cockerell, 1913Published as part of Bechly, Günter & Rasmussen, Jan Audun, 2019, A new genus of hawker dragonfly (Odonata: Anisoptera: Aeshnidae) from the Early Eocene Fur Formation of Denmark, pp. 123-128 in Zootaxa 4550 (1) on page 124, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4550.1.6, http://zenodo.org/record/262519
Eolestes ramosus Greenwalt & Bechly, 2014, n. sp.
<i>Eolestes ramosus</i> n. sp. <p>(Figures 5 C, 6C, 7)</p> <p> <b>Holotype.</b> USNM 559047, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C.</p> <p> <b>Type locality and stratum.</b> Disbrow Creek site, Middle Fork of the Flathead River, Pinnacle, Montana, USA. Coal Creek Member of the Kishenehn Formation, early Middle Eocene, 46.2±0.4 or 43.5±4.9 mya (Constenius, 1996).</p> <p> <b>Etymology.</b> Species name <i>ramosus</i> from the Latin word ramosus (branching), an indication of the branching of the supplementary longitudinal sectors in the MP-CuA field.</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis.</b> Differs from <i>E. syntheticus</i> by the following characters: 1) CuP origin at instead of distal of the separation of AA’ and AA’’; 2) three supplementary longitudinal sectors in the cubital field vs. two; 3) 2–4 rows of cells between distal parts of IR2 and RP 3/4 vs. 1–2.</p> <p> <b>Description.</b> An intact fossil damselfly wing, hyaline, 27.1 mm long and 6.06 mm and 7.13 mm wide at nodus and widest point respectively (Fig. 5 C); pterostigma four cells and 3.05 mm long, 0.61 mm wide; pterostigmal brace oblique; distance between wing apex and pterostigma, pterostigma and nodus, nodus and arculus and arculus and base 2.43, 12.13, 5.8 and 3.66 mm respectively; petiole length relative to distance from petiole to nodus = 0.44; post-pterostigmal cell area consists of two single cells proximally, three smaller cells distally and five double cells in between; two antenodal and two antesubnodal crossveins. Ax1 opposite separation of AA’ & AA’’ and separated from Ax2 by 1.30 mm; Ax2 opposite arcular crossvein just distal to RP origin and anterior arcular crossvein; RP separates from RP +MA just below RA+ RP so that RP +MA very short; supplementary antenodal crossveins absent; posterior arcular crossvein separating from discoidal cell 0.33 mm below RA; nodus and subnodal bracket not preserved, subnodal crossvein apparently oblique; 14 postnodal crossveins exactly aligned with postsubnodal crossveins with exception of last four; ‘‘lestine’’ oblique vein ‘‘O’’ present four cells distal of base of RP 2; base of IR1 four cells and 2.7 mm distal of RP 2 origin, IR1 zigzagged through first three cells, underlies a single row of cells that, proximal to pterostigma, are higher than they are wide and overlies a row of seven single cells that distally expand through six double cells and subsequently, an area of reticulated cells with two and three secondary longitudinal veins; base of RP 2 two cells and 1.46 mm distal of subnodus and six cells and 5.41 mm distal of origin of IR2; IR2 and PR3/4 originate much closer to arculus than nodus. IR2 arched abruptly toward RP at base with crossvein opposite, one cell and 0.86 mm from origin of RP 3/4; IR2 underlies a row of 18 single cells basally, followed by a gradual increase in number of secondary veins until there are 11 small cells at wing margin; RP 3/4 originates one cell and 1.30 mm from arculus and underlies a row of single cells that transitions from cells longer than high to higher than long before double cells appear just proximal to beginning of pterostigma; MA slightly zigzagged after a point about midway between arculus and nodus, and underlies a row of cells that transitions to double cells at level of IR1 origin and then gradually to 17 small cells at wing margin; MP underlies a single row of cells that gradually transitions from square-shaped to cells higher than wide; CuA a prominent vein that leaves subdiscoidal cell 0.29 mm below MP and transitions to a zigzagged pattern at about level of origin of RP 2; it underlies a broad cubital field 2.20 mm in height that starts with a single cell below base of MP and quickly transitions through one, two and then three secondary longitudinal veins and then back to two secondary veins at wing margin (Fig. 6 C); cubito-anal field consists of a single row of cells (12 distal of subnodus) that, except for the first, are higher than wide, and terminates at a point halfway between nodus and pterostigma; cubito-anal field 2.85 mm in height; CuP origin at separation of AA’ & AA’’ (Fig. 6), directly below Ax1; petiole well defined, 2.51 mm long (from base to separation of AA’ and AA’’) and 9.3% of wing length; discoidal cell closed basally, 1.50 mm long (end of posterior arcular vein to origin of MP) and 0.73 mm wide (origin of arcular vein to origin of MAb) with an acute posterior internal angle of 27 degrees (Note: given the curved nature of the posterior portions of MAb and MP & CuA, the angle is that between lines that align with the majority of these two veins.); distal side of discoidal cell (MAb) nearly perpendicular to RA (7 degrees from vertical relative to RA), and 1.11 mm in length; anterior, posterior and basal (posterior arculus) sides 0.52 mm, 1.45 mm and 0.39 mm long; Ratio of lengths of anterior and posterior sides of discoidal cell = 0.36; subdiscoidal cell elongate with no fusion of CuP & AA’ to posterior wing margin distal of CuP; MP only partially preserved but with apparently no or very little arch as it leaves discoidal cell at angles of 93 and 76 degrees from MAb and vertical respectively.</p>Published as part of <i>Greenwalt, Dale E. & Bechly, Günter, 2014, A re-description of the fossil damselfly Eolestes syntheticus Cockerell, 1940 (Odonata: Zygoptera: Eolestidae n. fam.) with description of new taxa from the Eocene of North America, pp. 138-156 in Zootaxa 3887 (2)</i> on page 145, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3887.2.2, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/251053">http://zenodo.org/record/251053</a>