X-ray micro-CT reconstruction reveals eight antennomeres in a new fossil taxon that constitutes a sister clade to Dundoxenos and Triozocera (Strepsiptera: Corioxenidae)

Abstract

Eocenoxenos palintropos gen. nov. et sp.nov., a new fossil strepsipteran taxon from Baltic amber is described. The position of the new genus is based on cladistic analyses of morphological data sets. Most data of the fossil where retrieved with 3D micro-CT scan reconstructions. The new taxon is unambiguously situated as a sister group of the Dundoxenos-Triozocera clade within the Corioxenidae. The eocene taxon combines derived characteristics typical of Corioxenidae with the posession of eight antennomeres with five long flabella, a regained ancestral characteristic.