Fossil Genus Research Articles

Annotated checklist of family- and genus-group names associated with Scoliidae (Hymenoptera, Aculeata)

Thirty-two family-group names and 161 genus-group names are listed for Scoliidae, including two fossil subfamilies and eight fossil genera, together with identification of type species and critiques of publication history. Campsomerinae was first made available in 1912. Contrary to previous usage, Argaman must be recognised as author of Bellimeris, Catharinimeris (not Cathimeris), Colpacampsomeris, Fasciomeris (not Fascimeris), Garantimeris, Lindenimeris, Phaleromeris (not Phalerimeris), Tetrasciton and Tristomeris. Tristomeris takes precedence as correct spelling over Tristimeris. A summary classification to genus level is provided for Scoliidae. Trielidinastat. nov. is recognised as a subtribe of Campsomerini.

The discovery of a fossil whitefly from Lower Lusatia (Germany) presents a challenge to current ideas about Baltic amber

The whiteflies (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) are small sternorrhynchan insects, which have the potential to cause significant economic damage to agricultural crops. There is a paucity of knowledge regarding the diversity, disparity, and evolutionary history of these insects, with classification based on the immatures, called puparia. The fossil record of whiteflies is sparse and incomplete, with the majority of fossils representing imaginal forms preserved as inclusions in fossilized resins. In this study, we present the first inclusion in succinite associated with the layers of Lower/Middle Miocene 2nd Lusatian Lignite Seam of Wanninchen in Brandenburg, Germany. The objective of the present study is to elaborate this fossil, and as a consequence, a new fossil genus and species, Pudrica christianottoi gen. et sp. nov., is described. This fossil is a representative of the subfamily Aleyrodinae, and it is the third fossil genus of this whitefly subfamily to be described. The discovery of the fossil inclusion in the succinite from the lignite deposits of Lower Lusatia challenges the current understanding of the character and conditions of formation and deposition of central and east European Paleogene fossil resins. Succinite is a fossil resin that occurs in the Eocene deposits of the Gulf of Gdańsk, belonging to the Prussian Formation, containing a glauconite-rich horizon known as the ‘Blue Earth’. Similarly, glauconite-rich deposits are present in the Lublin area of Poland, where they are associated with the occurrence of succinite. Additionally, succinite has been found in deposits in the Rovno-Zhitomir area of Ukraine, which are alluvial deposits containing glauconite and lignite layers. Succinite was also identified in Eocene strata of Spitsbergen and in Axel Heiberg Island in the Canadian Arctic. Succinite has also been discovered in early Miocene deposits in Bitterfeld, Germany, where it occurs alongside lignite deposits (the deposit actually encompasses different fossil resins, so potentially originating from different source plants). Furthermore, it has been identified in younger (Pleistocene) deposits across Europe. The autochthonous (parautochthonous) character of the lignite deposits in Lower Lusatia raises questions regarding the time range of the succinite-producing gymnosperm trees and the autochthonous or allochthonous character of the lignite layers associated fossilized resins.

A New Fossil Genus of Altingiaceae Based on Unlobed Leaves from Eocene Subtropical Evergreen Broad-leaved Forest in Europe

A New Fossil Genus of Altingiaceae Based on Unlobed Leaves from Eocene Subtropical Evergreen Broad-leaved Forest in Europe

Cretaceous and Paleocene fossils reveal an extinct higher clade within Cornales, the dogwood order.

Characterization and phylogenetic integration of fossil angiosperms with uncertain affinities is relatively limited, which may obscure the diversity of extinct higher taxa in the flowering plant tree of life. The order Cornales contains a diversity of extinct taxa with uncertain familial affinities that make it an ideal group for studying turnover in angiosperms. Here, we describe a new extinct genus of Cornales unassignable to an extant family and conduct a series of phylogenetic analyses to reconstruct relationships of fossils across the order. Two permineralized endocarps were collected from the Cedar District Formation (Campanian, 82-80 Ma) of Sucia Island, State of Washington, United States. Fossils were sectioned with the cellulose acetate peel technique and incorporated into a morphological dataset. To assess the utility of this dataset to accurately place taxa in their respective clades, we used a series of phylogenetic pseudofossilization analyses. We then conducted a total-evidence analysis and a scaffold-based approach to determine relationships of fossils. Based on their unique combination of characters, the fossils represent a new genus, Fenestracarpa washingtonensis gen. nov. et sp. nov. Pseudofossilization analyses indicate that our morphological dataset can be used to accurately recover taxa at the major clade to family level, generally with moderate to high support. The total-evidence and scaffold-based analyses recovered Fenestracarpa and other fossil genera in an entirely extinct clade within Cornales. Our findings increase the reported diversity of extinct Cornales and indicate that the order's initial radiation likely included the divergence of an extinct higher clade that endured the end-Cretaceous Mass extinction but perished during the Cenozoic.

Conifer fossil woods from the Upper Cretaceous (Neuquén Group) of Mendoza Province, Argentina

An assemblage of four silicified woods from the Neuquén Group (Upper Cretaceous) collected in the Cara Cura Mountain Range, southwest of Mendoza Province, Argentina is described. The specimens are composed of secondary xylem, and the preservation varies among them. Two specimens were assigned to Agathoxylon antarcticum (Poole et Cantrill) Pujana et al., related to Araucariaceae. This fossil-species is characterized by its distinct growth ring boundaries, uni- to biseriate araucarian pitting on tracheid radial walls, and araucarioid cross-fields. Other specimens could not be assigned to a fossil-genus because of their poor preservation, but they show a conifer anatomy. The distinct growth ring boundaries of some specimens suggest annual seasonality. Additionally, the presence of small globose structures in areas of highly degraded secondary xylem is consistent with the erosion bacteria type observed in modern and fossil woods.

The first fossil genus and two new species of the worldwide tribe Prosopochrysini (Diptera: Stratiomyidae: Stratiomyinae) found in Dominican and Mexican ambers

ABSTRACT Stratiomyidae is one of the most species-rich and morphologically diversified Diptera families of the orthorraphous Brachycera. Despite the large species diversity and prevalence in various environments, soldier flies are rare in the fossil records, especially in amber deposits. Here we present the first two Prosopochrysini fossils from Miocene amber. The fossils are assigned to a new genus—Cenorhaphiocerina gen. nov.— included in the extant tribe Prosopochrysini, with the description of two species, C. dominicana sp. nov. from amber mines in the Dominican Republic and C. kraemerae sp. nov. from amber areas in Simojovel, Chiapas, Mexico. The new genus and species are compared with other extant genera of Prosopochrysini. We postulate that Cenorhaphiocerina gen. nov. likely forms a group with the extant genera Acanthasargus White, 1914, Hoplistopsis James, 1950, Rhaphiocerina Lindner, 1936 and the species Prosopochrysa azurea (Lindner, 1951), that should be placed in a separate genus, based on the presence of four medial wing veins, upper and lower frons in the head contrasting in colour, and of some level of dichoptic eyes configuration in males. https://zoobank.org:act:1163F677-D54F-4CB8-A11B-9072E76EE91F https://zoobank.org:act:ADDDBA20-883B-41FB-9C28-3F11E3C34308 https://zoobank.org:act:567CEBF3-7E6D-4128-981D-3CC1DB25F0D5

New species and reclassification of the fossil assassin bug Koenigsbergia (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Phimophorinae)

The assassin bug genus Koenigsbergia Popov, 2003 is currently monotypic and represented by a female holotype from Baltic Amber (~33.9–55.8 MYA). The genus was originally described within Phymatinae (Phymatine Complex or phymatine clade). However, our literature review reveals that the amber fossil likely belongs to the subfamily Phimophorinae, which is distantly related to the phymatine clade. The recent acquisition of one male and one nymph of Koenigsbergia provides the opportunity to reevaluate the systematic placement of this genus. We here examine the new fossils, concluding that the adult male represents an undescribed species, and describe it as Koenigsbergia explicativa, new species. Our morphological comparison between Phimophorinae, Phymatinae, and Koenigsbergia (macro imagining, scanning electron microscopy) shows that the fossil genus shares notable similarities with Phimophorus Bergroth, 1886 and Mendanocoris Miller, 1956. We therefore formally transfer the fossil genus to Phimophorinae.

The oldest evidence of symbiosis between mites and fungi with description of a new genus and species of Trochometridiidae (Acari: Heterostigmata) from Cretaceous amber</p >

The female of a new fossil genus and species, Rhombometridium pankowskiorum gen. and sp. nov. (Acari: Trochometridiidae), is described from Cretaceous Kachin amber. The new genus is characterized by the presence of well-developed sporothecae anteriad legs III, each sporotheca containing several ovoid fungal spores. This is the oldest (ca. 100 Mya), evidence of symbiosis between mites and fungi and the first fossil record of the mite family Trochometridiidae. The new genus shares synapomorphies with the family Trochometridiidae (presence of sporothecae between bases of legs III and IV) and Caraboacaridae (rhombic body shape, absence of setae v2, absence of palpal solenidion, palps fused with distinctly widened gnathosomal capsule), and potentially represents a transitional form or a missing link between these two closely related families. We also compare the sporothecae of R. pankowskiorum with those of other heterostigmatic mites.

Evolutionary and biogeographic patterns in the deep-sea echinoid families Pourtalesiidae Agassiz 1881 and Ceratophysidae fam. nov. (Echinoidea)

Abstract The sea urchin family Pourtalesiidae is primarily an abyssal taxon, exhibiting extremely modified morphologies that have emerged as an adaptation for burrowing in soft sediment. Here, we present the first detailed molecular phylogeny of the family Pourtalesiidae. Both morphological and molecular evidence support the establishment of the family Ceratophysidae fam. nov. to accommodate seven former pourtalesiid genera. The name Pourtalesiidae is retained for the group of genera Cystocrepis and Pourtalesia. Based on morphological data, the fossil genus Galeaster is transferred to the monotypic family Galeasteridae fam. nov.. Families Pourtalesiidae and Ceratophysidae are each characterized by a unique pattern of plastron plating. Reconstructions indicate that elongated tests, as well as other adaptations for burrowing, evolved independently in these families. The evolutionary histories of pourtalesiids and ceratophysids are complex and include several instances of increase and decrease in this specialization. Molecular data support the Antarctic origin of Pourtalesiidae and Ceratophysidae, although for the latter the support is limited. The initial dispersal of pourtalesiids from the Antarctic occurred in the northward direction and included distribution of the least specialized forms throughout the eastern Pacific. Broad radiation of the more specialized forms apparently occurred later. The biogeographic history of the family Ceratophysidae is more complex and at present cannot be reconstructed reliably.

New Cretaceous Fossil Achilidae Taxa (Insecta, Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha) from Burmese Ambers with Description of Niryasaburniini Trib. Nov.

A new species Niryasaburnia nigrutomia sp. nov. of the planthopper family Achilidae from Burmese amber collected from Hukawng Valley (Tanai) of northern Myanmar, is described, notably based on forewing pattern coloration and metatibiotarsal teeth conformation. A new fossil genus with its type species Sinuovenaxius kachinensis gen. et sp. nov. is also described. The tribe Niryasaburniini trib. nov. is established to include Niryasaburnia Szwedo, 2004, and Sinuovenaxius gen. nov., based on a unique combination of characters, of which the following states are particularly notable: head with compound eyes around half the length of pronotum, late forking of ScP+R and CuA after the fusion of Pcu+A1 on the forewing, apical teeth of metatarsomeres I and II both with subapical platellar sensilla, and a unique hindwing pattern with simple RP and biforked MP, CuA with two terminals only, and with A2 simple, reaching the posterior wing margin. The hindwing venation of this new tribe with RP with only one terminal and both MP and CuA with two terminals is unique in Achilidae.

A new fossil genus near Meghyperus Loew from Baltic amber (Diptera: Atelestidae)

The Atelestidae are a small family of empidoid flies (Diptera: Empidoidea), including 15 recent species in five genera (Sinclair & Grimaldi, 2020). In contrast, they have a rather high fossil diversity (Table 1), with 28 species in nine genera. These fossil taxa are almost entirely from Cretaceous ambers (Canadian, Lebanese, Myanmar, New Jersey, Spanish), and prior to this study only a single described species from Baltic amber (Nemedina eocenica Sinclair & Arnaud, 2001) was known. The extant species are widespread, with two Afrotropical, three Neotropical, two Nearctic and eight Palaearctic species. This family is recognized within the Empidoidea on the basis of their well-developed anal lobe of the wing, distinct alula, R4+5 unforked, M1+2 usually unforked or forked beyond cell dm, cell cua long, at least as long as cell bm, female tergite 10 absent, male terminalia symmetrical and unrotated, with elongate gonocoxal apodemes and shortened hypandrium (Chvála, 1983; Grimaldi & Cumming, 1999; Sinclair & Cumming, 2006).

Two new kateretid beetle species (Coleoptera: Kateretidae) with specialized antennal scapes in males from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber

Kateretidae is a beetle family with 15 reported fossil species, four of them with specialized antennal scape. Specialized scape represents a rare form of sexual dimorphism in Kateretidae. Here we report two new species with a special scape in males of Protokateretes Zhao, Huang and Cai, 2023, and one female individual of an unnamed species of Protokateretes. The discovery of new species provides a supplementary diagnosis of Protokateretes, and increases the biodiversity of the fossil genus. The high diversity of species in Protokateretes provides new insights into sexual dimorphism of Kateretidae in mid-Cretaceous, enriching the knowledge of potential courtship strategy of kateretid beetles in the late Mesozoic.

New fossil genus and species of Yuripopovinidae (Insecta: Heteroptera, Coreoidea) from the Lower Cretaceous Jinju Formation, South Korea, with insights into the evolution of exaggerated antennae in the family

A new genus and species of Yuripopovinidae, Jinjupopovina eosahwae gen. et sp. nov. is described based on a piece of fragmentary fossil specimen from the lower Cretaceous Jinju Formation in Jinju City, South Korea. This species is the first record of Yuripopovinidae and the only heteropteran whose taxonomic status is reliably identified from the stratigraphic layer. Its antennal morphology provides a rare example of simultaneous enlargement in length and width among Heteroptera. Advantages and disadvantages of this antennal modification are discussed with references of other fossil and extant coreoids whose antennae are exaggerated. Our findings suggest that the antennae of Jinjupopovina facilitated visual signaling among infra-specific individuals or between reproductive partners. Evolutionary trends of the antennae in Yuripopovinidae are discussed with insights from Jinjupopovina.

Trilobated Lauraceous leaves from the Upper Cretaceous Olmos Formation, Coahuila, Northern Mexico

The Olmos Formation in Coahuila, Mexico has crucial information about the Cretaceous floras in northern Mexico. Its plant diversity is high and represents one of the most studied paleofloras for this region; angiosperm leaves are the main plant organs that can be found and serve as the primary source to reconstruct this paleoflora. Since a large part of the foliar diversity of this Formation has yet to be described, its documentation is essential to discuss further the history of plant establishment in southern North America. Through a detailed description and statistical comparison of its foliar architecture with other fossil and extant leaves, the new trilobate leaf is assigned to the fossil genus Pabiania Upchurch and Dilcher, a group found so far exclusively in the Cretaceous of the United States and now, for the first time in Mexico. Its leaf architecture suggests it is closely related to the Order Laurales and probably an extinct group within Lauraceae.

Description of a new fossil Thelyphonida (Arachnida, Uropygi) and further record of Cratosolpuga wunderlichi Selden, in Selden and Shear, 1996 (Arachnida, Solifugae) from Crato Formation (Aptian/Albian), Araripe Basin, Brazil.

A new fossil species of whipscorpion, Mesoproctus rayoli n. sp., is described. The specimen originates from the Crato Formation, dating to the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian/Albian) period within the Araripe Sedimentary Basin. This species has been provisionally assigned to Mesoproctus Dunlop, 1998, as it represents the sole known Thelyphonida fossil genus discovered in South America and within Araripe Lagerstätte. The material underwent detailed description and illustration processes. Key diagnostic characters, such as body length, pedipalpal coxae apophysis, the form of the opisthosoma, and the length of leg IV, were meticulously examined. SEM methods were applied in this study. Through the detailed analysis, comparisons and differences to Mesoproctus rowlandi Dunlop, 1998 were made possible. Additionally, a well-preserved specimen of the rare camel spider, Cratosolpuga wunderlichi Selden, in Selden and Shear, 1996, was identified from the limestones of the Crato Formation. The newly discovered fossil specimen of Cratosolpuga wunderlichi suggests two characters not previously described: (i) a segmented tarsomere on leg IV; and (ii) a leg I with one tarsal claw.

A new genus and two new species of fossil deraeocorine plant bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae) from Eocene Baltic amber.

A new fossil genus, Balticranocapsus gen. nov. and two new fossil species, Balticranocapsus aleksanderi sp. nov. and Deraeocoris gorczycai sp. nov. are described from Eocene Baltic amber. Morphological information, including the description and the diagnosis for the genus and species, is provided with photographs.

Tuberona nom. nov., a replacement name for Tuberocandona Külköylüoğlu et al., 2023 (Crustacea, Ostracoda)

The name Tuberocandona has been applied to two different genera of Ostracoda, first to a fossil genus described in 1995 from Europe and then to an extant genus reported in 2023 from North America. Because the name of the European genus takes precedence, a new name is proposed for the North American taxon.

A new pseudoscorpion genus (Garypinoidea: Garypinidae) from the Eocene supports extinction and range contraction in the European paleobiota.

During the Paleogene, the Holarctic experienced drastic climatic oscillations, including periods of extensive glaciation. These changes had a severe impact on both the flora and fauna causing widespread extinction and range shifts with some taxa retreating to refugia in the Mediterranean Basin. Here we provide evidence for this hypothesis using fossils from the pseudoscorpion family Garypinidae Daday, 1889 (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones). This family comprises 21 extant genera from all continents except Antarctica but is restricted to low mid-latitudes (<44°N) in the Northern Hemisphere. We provide the second record of garypinids from the European succinite ambers of the Eocene by describing the first extinct genus in Garypinidae, Baltamblyolpium gen. nov., which includes two species: Baltamblyolpium gizmotum sp. nov. from Baltic amber and Baltamblyolpium grabenhorsti sp. nov. from Bitterfeld amber. The new genus exhibits a morphology that closely resembles Neoamblyolpium Hoff, 1956 from western North America and the genus Amblyolpium Simon, 1898, which is widespread but includes taxa restricted to Mediterranean refugia in Europe. The discovery of a new fossil genus of Garypinidae from Europe confirms that the family was found at more northerly latitudes during the Eocene, however, extinction and range contraction resulted in their present-day relictual distribution in southern Europe like many other lineages that once thrived in the European "Baltic amber forest" of the Eocene.

A remarkable diversity of waterfowl (Aves: Anseriformes) from the Upper Eocene and Lower Oligocene of Kazakhstan

ABSTRACT Evolutionarily advanced waterfowl (the modern family Anatidae and its stem members in the order Anseriformes) are a successful bird group, well represented in faunas globally since the late Oligocene. However, the pre-late Oligocene history of the evolutionary lineage of Anatidae remains largely unexplored, as these birds are very rare in earlier faunas. This paper describes a remarkable diversity of waterfowl from the lower Oligocene of Kazakhstan (Central Asia), which includes two members of Anatidae, as well as stem-anatids referred to Romainvilliidae and Paranyrocidae. The latter family is represented by the enigmatic swan-sized Cygnopterus, the genus revised here, with new materials confirming its ordinal and familiar assignment. Anatidae are represented by the globally oldest diagnosable taxa for this family, including species in the fossil genus Mionetta, previously known from upper Oligocene–Middle Miocene strata. The paper further addresses two upper Eocene anseriform taxa from Kazakhstan. These data show that diverse assemblages of advanced anseriforms existed in Asia as early as early Oligocene. The presence of several stem-anatid taxa in the late Eocene faunas of Central Asia supports the hypothesis of a possible Eurasian (or Northern Continents) origin of Anatidae, although the subsequent diversification of the group could have occurred in the Australian region.

The First Fossil Find of Darwin Wasps of the Subfamily Poemeniinae (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) with Description of a New Genus and Species in Baltic Amber

A fossil representative of Darwin wasps of the subfamily Poemeniinae was first discovered from the Late Eocene Baltic amber; the Amberpoemenia kirejtshuki gen. et sp. nov. has been described. The fossil genus Amberpoemenia in the subfamily occupies an isolated position having features of specialization that are not typical of the recent representatives of the sufam. Poemeniinae.