Bechala sommeri Ilger & Brauckmann, 2012 enlightens the Namurian griffenfly diversity (Insecta: Odonatoptera: Bechalidae)
2012; Brill; Volume: 43; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1163/1876312x04302003
ISSN1876-312X
AutoresAndré Nel, Jan‐Michael Ilger, Carsten Brauckmann, Jakub Prokop,
Tópico(s)Freshwater macroinvertebrate diversity and ecology
ResumoBechala sommeri Ilger & Brauckmann, 2012, the type species of the type genus of the early Late Carboniferous (Namurian) family Bechalidae Ilger & Brauckmann, 2012, is redescribed. It does not belong to the order Megasecoptera as previously proposed. The taxon is clearly attributable to Odonatoptera for the typical venation characters as CuA separating from MP obliquely, a true arculus with concave RP and convex MA emerging from a composite vein R+MA, short ScP, and presence of convex intercalaries IR2 and IR1 between the main branches of RP3/4, RP2 and RP1. We transfer this taxon with the monospecific family Bechalidae to Odonatoptera. A new diagnosis is given for Bechalidae and its type genus Bechala . Furthermore, the presence of an oblique subnodal crossvein very far from the ending of ScP and close to the base of RP2 confirms the hypothesis that the subnodus is a structure originally independent of the nodus with a different function in relation to wing tracheation. The Bechalidae are included in a clade (Meganeuridae–Sinierasipteridae–Bechalidae–Lapeyridae–Nodialata), in contrast to a sister group relationships between the two clades Meganisoptera (=Namurotypidae–Paralogidae–Kargalotypidae–Kohlwaldiidae–Meganeuridae) and Odonatoclada (=Lapeyridae–Nodialata), while the potential relationships between the Campylopteridae and the Lapeyridae and Nodialata are rejected. Bechala represents a ‘damselfly-like’ ecological niche in the Namurian, showing the high diversity of the earliest known Odonatoptera, strongly suggesting an Early Carboniferous, if not Late Devonian age for this pterygote clade.
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