The Clicking Elateroidea from Chinese Mesozoic Deposits (Insecta, Coleoptera)
Recent molecular studies have suggested that the clicking beetle families Elateridae, Eucnemidae, Throscidae, and Cerophytidae evolved in the Jurassic and diversified in the Cretaceous. These studies paid little attention to fossils, using them only as dating tools. The identification of Elateridae...
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MDPI AG
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Insects |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/11/12/875 |
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| author | Jyrki Muona Huali Chang Dong Ren |
| author_facet | Jyrki Muona Huali Chang Dong Ren |
| author_sort | Jyrki Muona |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Recent molecular studies have suggested that the clicking beetle families Elateridae, Eucnemidae, Throscidae, and Cerophytidae evolved in the Jurassic and diversified in the Cretaceous. These studies paid little attention to fossils, using them only as dating tools. The identification of Elateridae fossils is challenging, as external synapomorphies are not known for this family. Elateridae can be identified only as something not belonging to the other related families, all of which have diagnostic synapomorphies. Most subfamilies and tribes of Elateridae do possess definite diagnostic characters, however, making their identification feasible. We checked the 28 Elateridae described from Chinese Mesozoic deposits. Twelve were Elateridae, seven were Eucnemidae, and one was a Throscidae. Three species could be Eucnemidae, but showed aberrant characters. Five species could not be placed and may not belong to Elateroidea at all. On the basis of these results we suggest that all previously described Elateridae fossils should be re-checked. They should be searched for synapomorphies defining Eucnemidae, Throscidae, and Cerophytidae. If such characters are not present, a click beetle type of fossil can be placed in Elateroidae <i>incertae sedis</i>. The Mesozoic Chinese Elateridae fossils all belong to clades that do not exist today, whereas the Mesozoic Eucnemidae subfamilies are extant ones. This may be the source of the disagreement between Elateridae fossil age and datings based on molecular studies. One new combination was made: <i>Desmatus ponomarenkoi</i> (Chang, Kiretjshuk & Ren, 2009) NEW COMBINATION (= <i>Paradesmatus ponomarenkoi</i> Chang, Kirejtshuk & Ren, 2009). |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:13:37Z |
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| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:13:37Z |
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| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj.art-5c55da1374934de3859f942269f122b02023-11-20T23:59:40ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502020-12-01111287510.3390/insects11120875The Clicking Elateroidea from Chinese Mesozoic Deposits (Insecta, Coleoptera)Jyrki Muona0Huali Chang1Dong Ren2Zoology Unit, Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, FinlandHenan Geological Museum, Jinshuidonglu 18, Zhengdongxin Dsitrict, Zhengzhou 450016, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences and Academy for Multidisciplinary Studies, Capital Normal University, Xisanhuanbeilu 105, Haidian District, Beijing 100048, ChinaRecent molecular studies have suggested that the clicking beetle families Elateridae, Eucnemidae, Throscidae, and Cerophytidae evolved in the Jurassic and diversified in the Cretaceous. These studies paid little attention to fossils, using them only as dating tools. The identification of Elateridae fossils is challenging, as external synapomorphies are not known for this family. Elateridae can be identified only as something not belonging to the other related families, all of which have diagnostic synapomorphies. Most subfamilies and tribes of Elateridae do possess definite diagnostic characters, however, making their identification feasible. We checked the 28 Elateridae described from Chinese Mesozoic deposits. Twelve were Elateridae, seven were Eucnemidae, and one was a Throscidae. Three species could be Eucnemidae, but showed aberrant characters. Five species could not be placed and may not belong to Elateroidea at all. On the basis of these results we suggest that all previously described Elateridae fossils should be re-checked. They should be searched for synapomorphies defining Eucnemidae, Throscidae, and Cerophytidae. If such characters are not present, a click beetle type of fossil can be placed in Elateroidae <i>incertae sedis</i>. The Mesozoic Chinese Elateridae fossils all belong to clades that do not exist today, whereas the Mesozoic Eucnemidae subfamilies are extant ones. This may be the source of the disagreement between Elateridae fossil age and datings based on molecular studies. One new combination was made: <i>Desmatus ponomarenkoi</i> (Chang, Kiretjshuk & Ren, 2009) NEW COMBINATION (= <i>Paradesmatus ponomarenkoi</i> Chang, Kirejtshuk & Ren, 2009).https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/11/12/875MesozoicElateroideafossilssynapomorphyphylogenyEucnemidae |
| spellingShingle | Jyrki Muona Huali Chang Dong Ren The Clicking Elateroidea from Chinese Mesozoic Deposits (Insecta, Coleoptera) Insects Mesozoic Elateroidea fossils synapomorphy phylogeny Eucnemidae |
| title | The Clicking Elateroidea from Chinese Mesozoic Deposits (Insecta, Coleoptera) |
| title_full | The Clicking Elateroidea from Chinese Mesozoic Deposits (Insecta, Coleoptera) |
| title_fullStr | The Clicking Elateroidea from Chinese Mesozoic Deposits (Insecta, Coleoptera) |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Clicking Elateroidea from Chinese Mesozoic Deposits (Insecta, Coleoptera) |
| title_short | The Clicking Elateroidea from Chinese Mesozoic Deposits (Insecta, Coleoptera) |
| title_sort | clicking elateroidea from chinese mesozoic deposits insecta coleoptera |
| topic | Mesozoic Elateroidea fossils synapomorphy phylogeny Eucnemidae |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/11/12/875 |
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