New archaeorthopteran insects from the Pennsylvanian of Piesberg reveal unexpected mosaic of morphological traits and colouration pattern of the tegmina. (2nd December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dvořák, Tomáš; Pecharová, Martina; Leipner, Angelika; Nel, André; Prokop, Jakub
• Is Part Of: Historical biology. Volume 33:Number 12(2021)
• Page Start: 3375
• Page End: 3383
• Publication Date: 2021-12-02
• Subjects: Insecta -- Polyneoptera -- Archaeorthoptera -- wing venation -- Carboniferous -- subvariscan foreland basin; Paleobiology -- Periodicals; Biology -- Periodicals; Evolution -- Periodicals; Paleontology -- Periodicals; Biology -- Periodicals; Paleontology -- Periodicals; Evolution -- Periodicals; 560.5
• DOI: 10.1080/08912963.2020.1867127
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0891-2963

Abstract

ABSTRACT: New archaeorthopterans Contracladus impar gen. nov. et sp. nov. (uncertain assignement), Paraspiculum brauckmannii gen. nov. et sp. nov. (Caloneurodea) and Piesbergopterum punctatum gen. nov. et sp. nov. (Cnemidolestodea) are described from the Moscovian of Piesberg quarry near Osnabrück (Lower Saxony, Germany). All new taxa display unique patterns of their forewing venations. The mosaic of characters found in C. impar with a particular lack of a free vein CuA demonstrates the limits of the current systematics for Archaeorthoptera. The evidence for a supposedly disruptive pattern of colouration is demonstrated on the forewing membrane of P. punctatum, which shows numerous spots in the distal part of the wing. Those are inside the cells delimited by the crossveins. The exceptionally preserved fossils found in Piesberg document fine structural details and complete our knowledge on the early history of this diverse group of polyneopteran insects.