New megapodagrionid damselflies (Odonata: Zygoptera) from the Paleogene of Europe

Abstract

Three fossil taxa of megapodagrionid damselflies are described and figured from the Paleogene localities in Europe on the basis of isolated wings. Eckfeldia superstes (Wappler, 2003) gen. nov. is described from the laminated mudstones of middle Eocene age from Eckfeld Maar, Germany. Furagrion jutlandicus (Henriksen, 1922) gen. nov. is recorded from the laminated claystones of lowermost Eocene age from the Ølst and Fur-Formation, Denmark, and an undetermined megapodagrionid damselfly is recognized from middle Eocene strata. Taphonomy and color preservation in the fossils are briefly considered. Characters used for phylogenetic analyses in extant and fossil Megapodagrionidae are discussed. The biogeographic and paleoecological implications of the new European fossils are briefly discussed.

A new genus and species of Dermestidae (Coleoptera) from the Eckfeld Maar crater (Middle Eocene, Germany)

“…Following early stages with succeeding volcanoclastic and predominantly siliciclastic sedimentation, the lake became meromictic and the finely laminated bituminous claystone ("oilshale") was formed in the quiet anoxic bottom layer of the lake. The oilshale contains biomarkers and lithified bacteria, algae, a great diversity of tracheophytes, numerous arthropods, few molluscs and a wide range of vertebrates, documenting a highly diverse terrestrial flora and fauna representing an ecosystem towards the end of the middle Eocene (e.g., Neuffer et al 1996;Lutz et al 1998Lutz et al , 2010Wilde & Frankenhäuser 1998;Wappler 2002Wappler , 2003aWappler & Engel 2003, 2006Wappler & Andersen 2004;Wappler et al , 2005Wappler & Heiss 2006;Wappler & Petrulevičius 2007;Petrulevičius et al 2008;Dlussky et al 2008Dlussky et al , 2009). The Eckfelder Maar insect taphocoenosis contains a total of nearly 4700 fossil specimens.…”

First Baltic amber megapodagrionid damselfly (Odonata: Zygoptera)

“…Bechly 1996 currently includes 34 extant genera and shows an essentially pantropical distribution (Petrulevičius et al 2008). Relationships among the known living species, are however unclear, and it is unknown whether the fossil species are allied to those that are living today in the pantropical regions.…”

“…An updated checklist of fossil Megapodagrionidae is given below (Appendix 1). Among them, Electropodagrion diff ers from Eckfeldia Petrulevičius et al (2008), in its pterostigma covering one cell. Furagrion Petrulevičius et al 2008 has its CuP in a more distal position, a pterostigma covering 2-3 cells, and secondary longitudinal veins between IR1 and RP2.…”

“…Among them, Electropodagrion diff ers from Eckfeldia Petrulevičius et al (2008), in its pterostigma covering one cell. Furagrion Petrulevičius et al 2008 has its CuP in a more distal position, a pterostigma covering 2-3 cells, and secondary longitudinal veins between IR1 and RP2. Th e 'Megapodagrionidae genus and species undetermined' from the Eocene of Messel (Germany) diff ers from Electropodagrion in the same two last characters (Petrulevičius et al 2008).…”

“…Furagrion Petrulevičius et al 2008 has its CuP in a more distal position, a pterostigma covering 2-3 cells, and secondary longitudinal veins between IR1 and RP2. Th e 'Megapodagrionidae genus and species undetermined' from the Eocene of Messel (Germany) diff ers from Electropodagrion in the same two last characters (Petrulevičius et al 2008). Electropodagrion diff ers from Eopodagrion Cockerell 1920 in its pterostigmal brace not oblique (Cockerell 1920).…”