A new genus and species of mud cricket (Orthoptera: Ripipterygidae) from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber of northern Myanmar

Abstract

The Ripipterygidae is a small orthopteran family which comprises several bizarre species. A new genus and species of Ripipterygidae, Kallosripipteryx zhangi sp. nov., is described based on a well-preserved inclusion from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber. The new genus and species are established based on the following combination of characters: wider interocular distance, prosternal process present, fusiform mesotibia, metatibia apical spurs about 1/3rd of metatarsus in length; paraproctal lobe two-segmented; and paraproctal lobe distinctly longer than ovipositor. Additionally, we recognize a kind of metatarsal structure among most Mesozoic ripipterygids: the outer side of apical process is triangular in lateral view. Our new find enriches the biodiversity of fossil Ripipterygidae as well as Tridactyloidea, and provides a new interpretation of biogeography of Tridactyloidea.