A new enigmatic lineage of Dascillidae (Coleoptera: Elateriformia) from Eocene Baltic amber described using X-ray microtomography, with notes on Karumiinae morphology and classification

Kundrata, Robin; Gimmel, Matthew L.; Packova, Gabriela; Bukejs, Andris; Blank, Stephan M.

doi:10.5194/fr-24-141-2021

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Crowson (1971) proposed a close relationship between Dascillidae and Rhipiceridae (collectively as Dascilloidea), which has been supported by molecular studies (e.g., Zhang et al, 2018;McKenna et al, 2019;Cai et al, 2022). Two subfamilies are currently recognised in Dascillidae, i.e., Dascillinae and Karumiinae, although the boundary between them is somewhat vaguely defined (Lawrence, 2016a;Kundrata et al, 2021). The fossil record of Dascillidae is quite scarce.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…The fossil record of Dascillidae is quite scarce. Kundrata et al (2021) reported Baltodascillus Kundrata et al from Eocene Baltic amber, and tentatively assigned it to the subfamily Karumiinae. Most other Cenozoic fossils once attributed to Dascillidae have since been removed, leaving only certain Miocene members of Lyprodascillus Zhang and Dascillus Latreille possibly belonging to the family (Jin et al, 2013b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

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Parelateriformius from the Middle–Late Jurassic of China reinterpreted as the earliest Dascillidae (Coleoptera: Dascilloidea)

Jin

Ślipiński

et al. 2022

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The elateriform genus Parelateriformius Yan & Wang from the Middle–Late Jurassic Daohugou beds has been placed previously in the extinct Lasiosynidae or the extant Eulichadidae. Our reinvestigation of the type specimens and additional materials suggests that the character combination of Parelateriformius (e.g., tarsomeres 2–4 distinctly lobed, posterior pronotal margin crenulate, radial cell short and with truncate base, and metakatepisternal suture complete) is not accordant with either Lasiosynidae or Eulichadidae. Instead, it should belong to the family Dascillidae and appears closely related to the extant Petalon. A new species of Parelateriformius is also described, as P. grimaldii Li & Cai sp. nov. Our discovery highlights the antiquity of Dascillidae, which is consistent with the recent fossil-calibrated molecular dating of beetles.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Parelateriformius from the Middle–Late Jurassic of China reinterpreted as the earliest Dascillidae (Coleoptera: Dascilloidea)

Jin

Ślipiński

et al. 2022

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“…Within Dascilloidea, elytral reduction is found only in the family Dascillidae, composed of two subfamilies that are probably not monophyletic as currently defined (Kundrata et al, 2021). Representatives of this family display a graded series of morphological modifications due to possible heterochronic changes resulting in paedomorphosis (occurrence of larval characters in the adult stage; Gould, 1977).…”

Section: Superfamily Dascilloideamentioning

confidence: 99%

When a key innovation becomes redundant: Patterns, drivers and consequences of elytral reduction inColeoptera

Goczał,

Beutel,

Gimmel

et al. 2023

Systematic Entomology

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The transformation of the fore wings into strongly sclerotized protective covers (elytra) is considered a fundamental evolutionary innovation of the megadiverse order Coleoptera. Surprisingly, these multifunctional structures have been reduced in many distantly related groups of beetles. Patterns, drivers and the evolutionary implications of this modification have never been comprehensively discussed. In the present study, we surveyed the entire order Coleoptera to analyse the patterns of elytral shortening and loss, with a special focus on prevalence, forms, degree of reduction and the functional background of this significant deviation from the coleopteran ground plan. Our analysis revealed that about 20% of all extant species (roughly 88,000 out of 442,275 spp.), distributed across all four suborders, have shortened or even absent elytra. The elytral loss was more frequent within the polyphagan series Elateriformia and Staphyliniformia. Moreover, we found that elytral reduction has independently occurred multiple times in the evolutionary history of Coleoptera and that it has been driven by a wide array of selective drivers. One of the main drivers is the improved flexibility of the uncovered abdomen and the correlated increased manoeuvrability in narrow spaces, as well as the option of using the flexible abdomen as a steering organ or to facilitate mating. Another common driver is mimicry, where exposed metathoracic wings potentially improve the overall similarity to hymenopteran models. Exposure of the abdomen can facilitate the targeted release of defensive abdominal gland secretions and was most likely a crucial step towards establishing relations with social insects enhanced by chemical communication. In the Elateriformia, and rarely in other lineages, elytral loss is a consequence of paedomorphosis, related to a specific resource‐allocation strategy. In many groups of beetles with reduced elytra, alternative defensive strategies can be found. This includes, for instance, aposematic coloration, chemical defence, mimicry or bioluminescence. Direct drivers of elytral loss in many groups remain unclear, and more studies are needed to understand the evolutionary background and implications of this significant morphological modification in Coleoptera.

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“…These techniques were recently successfully applied in a number of paleontological studies dealing with various animal taxa, including both vertebrates [11,12] and invertebrates [13][14][15]. Regarding Coleoptera (beetles), the micro-CT was used in some studies focused on the Burmese amber [10,16], but it is especially successful in reconstructing the morphology of specimens from Baltic amber (including genitalia and fine morphology of specimens with body length under 1 mm) [17][18][19][20].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The First Ptilodactyla Illiger, 1807 (Coleoptera: Dryopoidea: Ptilodactylidae) Described from Eocene Baltic Amber

Kundrata

Packova

Kairišs

et al. 2021

Biology

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The beetle family Ptilodactylidae contains more than 500 extant species; however, its fossil record is scarce and remains understudied. In this study, we describe a new species of Ptilodactylidae, Ptilodactyla eocenica Kundrata, Bukejs and Blank, sp. nov., based on a relatively well-preserved specimen from Baltic amber. We use X-ray microcomputed tomography to reconstruct its morphology since some of the principal diagnostic characters have been obscured by opaque bubbles. It is the third ptilodactylid species described from Baltic amber, and the first one belonging to the subfamily Ptilodactylinae. Additionally, we summarize the classification, diversity, and distribution of both extinct and extant Ptilodactylidae.

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A new enigmatic lineage of Dascillidae (Coleoptera: Elateriformia) from Eocene Baltic amber described using X-ray microtomography, with notes on Karumiinae morphology and classification

Cited by 3 publications

References 29 publications

Parelateriformius from the Middle–Late Jurassic of China reinterpreted as the earliest Dascillidae (Coleoptera: Dascilloidea)

Parelateriformius from the Middle–Late Jurassic of China reinterpreted as the earliest Dascillidae (Coleoptera: Dascilloidea)

When a key innovation becomes redundant: Patterns, drivers and consequences of elytral reduction inColeoptera

The First Ptilodactyla Illiger, 1807 (Coleoptera: Dryopoidea: Ptilodactylidae) Described from Eocene Baltic Amber

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