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 <i>Tupus readi</i> Carpenter, 1933 is transferred to the genus <i>Shenzhousia</i> Zhang & Hong, 2006 in Zhang et al. (2006), and therefore should be referred to as <i>Shenzhousia readi</i> (Carpenter, 1933) n. comb. The monotypic genus <i>Sinomeganeura</i> Ren et al., 2008 is synonymized with <i>Oligotypus</i> Carpenter, 1931. As a consequence the type species of the former must be referred to as <i>Oligotypus huangheensis</i> (Ren et al., 2008) n. comb. The monotypic genus <i>Paragilsonia</i> Zhang, Hong & Su, 2012 in Su et al. (2012) is synonymized with <i>Tupus</i> Sellards, 1906. As a consequence the type-species of the former is to be referred to as <i>Tupus orientalis</i> (Zhang, Hong & Su, 2012 in Su et al. (2012)) n. comb. The monotypic genus <i>Sinierasiptera</i> Zhang, Hong & Su, 2012 in Su et al. (2012) is synonymized with <i>Erasipterella</i> Brauckmann, 1983. As a consequence the type-species of the former is to be referred to as <i>Erasipterella jini</i> (Zhang, Hong & Su, 2012 in Su et al. (2012)) n. comb. In addition <i>Aseripterella sinensis</i> n. gen. et sp. and <i>Sylphalula laliquei</i> 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 <i>Shenzhousia</i> and <i>Oligotypus</i>, stem from the early Pennsylvanian, and implies a high resilience of these taxa when facing the Pennsylvanian–Permian environmental perturbations. <br><br> doi:<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/mmng.201300006" target="_blank">10.1002/mmng.201300006</a>

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

“…Remarks. The occurrence of a subnodus decisively indicates that the species to which the new specimen belongs is a stem-Odonata, as this structure is present in both Meganisoptera [17,26] (figure 3) and Nodialata (figure 4). This proposal is further corroborated by the branching pattern of RP, following a (2,1) pattern; the occurrence of intercalary veins between RP branches; and the occurrence of a RP + MA stem.…”

“…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.…”

The Late Carboniferous Triplosoba pulchella is not a fly in the ointment but a stem‐mayfly

“…Note that this state also occurs in meganisopteran Odonatoptera [Li et al . (), Nel et al . () and Grimaldi & Engel's () Holodonata].…”

“…It is also consistent with what is known of the wing venation of more derived members of Odonatoptera, in which MA and MP are separated from the very wing base, running along/fused with R/RP and Cu, respectively (e.g. Li et al ., ).…”