Early Pennsylvanian Odonatoptera from the Xiaheyan locality (Ningxia, China): new material, taxa, and perspectives

Abstract

Data on Odonatoptera species from the Xiaheyan locality (Ningxia, China; Early Pennsylvanian) described so far are complemented based on abundant new material. Several taxonomic and nomenclatural adjustments are proposed. The species Tupus readi Carpenter, 1933 is transferred to the genus Shenzhousia Zhang & Hong, 2006 in Zhang et al. (2006), and therefore should be referred to as Shenzhousia readi (Carpenter, 1933) n. comb. The monotypic genus Sinomeganeura Ren et al., 2008 is synonymized with Oligotypus Carpenter, 1931. As a consequence the type species of the former must be referred to as Oligotypus huangheensis (Ren et al., 2008) n. comb. The monotypic genus Paragilsonia Zhang, Hong & Su, 2012 in Su et al. (2012) is synonymized with Tupus Sellards, 1906. As a consequence the type‐species of the former is to be referred to as Tupus orientalis (Zhang, Hong & Su, 2012 in Su et al. (2012)) n. comb. The monotypic genus Sinierasiptera Zhang, Hong & Su, 2012 in Su et al. (2012) is synonymized with Erasipterella Brauckmann, 1983. As a consequence the type‐species of the former is to be referred to as Erasipterella jini (Zhang, Hong & Su, 2012 in Su et al. (2012)) n. comb. In addition Aseripterella sinensis n. gen. et sp. and Sylphalula laliquei n. gen. et sp. are described. The ‘strong oblique distal' cross‐vein, located in the area between RA and RP is found to occur more extensively than previously expected. It is believed to be a structure distinct from the subnodal cross‐vein, and therefore deserves to be referred to by a distinct name (viz. ‘postsubnodal cross‐vein'). Odonatoptera from the Xiaheyan locality cover a broad range of sizes. Factors that could have promoted the evolution of large‐sized Odonatoptera are briefly reviewed. The permissive conditions prevailing during the Pennsylvanian, and the existence of an elaborated food web, are emphasized as putative positive factors. The new taxonomic treatment suggests that genera documented in the Lower Permian, such as Shenzhousia and Oligotypus, stem from the early Pennsylvanian, and implies a high resilience of these taxa when facing the Pennsylvanian–Permian environmental perturbations. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

A new, rare and distinctive species of Panorthoptera (Insecta, Archaeorthoptera) from the Upper Carboniferous of Xiaheyan (Ningxia, China)

“…This exceptional material allowed solid inferences on wing venation intra-specific variability in various insect lineages (e.g. Béthoux et al, 2011Béthoux et al, , 2012bCui et al, 2011;Gu et al, 2011;Li et al, 2013;Pecharová et al, 2015). Moreover, both males and females were identified for two species (Du et al, 2017;Pecharová et al, 2015), one of them, a relative of grasshoppers, crickets and katydids (Orthoptera), displaying a significant femalebiased sexual size dimorphism.…”

New light shed on Triadophlebiomorpha wing morphology and systematics (Insecta: Odonata)

“…However, the possibility that this configuration evolved from a simple RP3+4 complemented by numerous posterior I- and I+, or a RP3+4 posteriorly pectinate and a complementary set of I+, is to be discussed. A relevant analogue is the organisation of the venation in the MA-MP area in large-sized meganisopterans (see Zessin 1983; Nel et al 2009; Li et al 2013; Béthoux et al 2021). Here the vein-like structure immediately anterior to MP is convex (as is MA) and is usually branched before its mid-length; while the more distal part of the MA-MP area is filled with a regular alternation of convex and concave veins, generally simple.…”

“…In the putative sister-groups of Triadophlebiomorpha, namely the meganisopterans, the Protanisoptera and early representatives of Stigmoptera, the area between RP3+4 and MA remains narrow, at least for most of its course, and is filled with a single row of cells (with rare exceptions; Zessin 1983; Huguet et al 2002; Nel et al 2012, 2009; Li et al 2013; Béthoux et al 2021 among others). From such a condition, it can be reasonably conceived that the broadening of the area between RP3+4 and MA, in yet unknown early relatives of Triadophlebiomorpha, induced the formation of intercalaries.…”

Little bits of dragonfly history repeating exemplified by a new Pennsylvanian family

“…Here, we describe a new case of narrow-winged form documented based on a very rare material composed of a sub-complete wing from the Pennsylvanian Xiaheyan locality, already known for its rich assemblage of griffenflies [ 17 ]. The well-constrained systematic placement of the new species attests to the early occurrence of a lineage of narrow-winged odonates distinct from the Archizygoptera.…”