Abstract
Snakefly (Raphidioptera) larvae are newly documented from the Early Cretaceous ambers of Lebanon, Myanmar (Burma), and France. Previously only two Cretaceous larvae had been documented, one in Late Cretaceous (Turonian) amber from New Jersey and another in Early Cretaceous (Albian) amber from Myanmar. The specimens discussed herein are likely representative of the extinct family Mesoraphidiidae, but definitive familial assignment is currently not possible. The new fossil material is described and placed into context with the known larval morphology of modern and fossil species, as well as with the geological history of the order as documented by the remains of adults.
Highlights
Raphidioptera, or snakeflies, are presently classified into six families, four of which are extinct and known only from the Mesozoic
A catalogue of all described fossil snakeflies was provided by Engel (2002) to which should be added Sinoinocellia liaoxiensis Wang (1987) and five fossils described subsequently from the Eocene-Oligocene of Florissant (Engel, 2003), in middle Eocene Baltic amber (Aspéck and Aspdéck, 2004), and the Early Cretaceous of southern Korea (Engel et al, 2006)
The Burmese specimen was considered a putative mesoraphidiid and additional wing fragments subsequently discovered in Burmese amber are all of mesoraphidiids of species larger and differing in venation from the adult described by Engel (2002) (Engel, unpubl. data)
Summary
Raphidioptera, or snakeflies, are presently classified into six families, four of which are extinct and known only from the Mesozoic. MATERIAL EXAMINED: Snakefly larval head capsule, AMNH _ Bu-507, deposited in the Amber Fossil Collection, Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York.
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