Fossil dragonflies (Odonata: Anisoptera) from the early Eocene Okanagan Highlands, western North America

Abstract

AbstractWe describe the first dragonflies (Odonata: Anisoptera) from the early Eocene Okanagan Highlands of far-western North America from nine fossils. Six are assigned to five species in four new, named genera of Aeshnidae:Antiquiala snyderaenew genus and species,Idemlinea versatilisnew genus and species,Ypshna brownleeinew genus and species,Ypshna latipennatanew genus and species, andEoshna thompsonensisnew genus and species; we treat one as Aeshnidae genus A, species A; one is assigned to Gomphidae:Auroradraco eosnew genus and species; and we treat a ninth, fragmentary fossil of unknown family affinity as Anisoptera indeterminate genus A, species A, which represents a seventh genus and eighth species. The dominance of Aeshnidae is consistent with other Paleocene and Eocene fossil localities.Auroradraco eosis the only fossil Gomphidae in the roughly 66-million-year gap between occurrences in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber and the early Oligocene of France.Ypshnaappears close toParabaissaeshna ejerslevensefrom the early Eocene Fur Formation of Denmark; this is not surprising given Holarctic intercontinental connections at this time and a growing list of insect taxa shared between the Okanagan Highlands and the Fur Formation.