At last, a Pennsylvanian stem-stonefly (Plecoptera) discovered
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Stem-relatives of many winged insect orders have been identified among Pennsylvanian fossils (Carboniferous Period). Owing to their presumed 'basal' position in insect phylogeny, stoneflies were expected to occur at this pe...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2011-08-01
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| Series: | BMC Evolutionary Biology |
| Online Access: | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/11/248 |
| _version_ | 1818381899283824640 |
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| author | Stark Bill Kondratieff Boris Cui Yingying Béthoux Olivier Ren Dong |
| author_facet | Stark Bill Kondratieff Boris Cui Yingying Béthoux Olivier Ren Dong |
| author_sort | Stark Bill |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Stem-relatives of many winged insect orders have been identified among Pennsylvanian fossils (Carboniferous Period). Owing to their presumed 'basal' position in insect phylogeny, stoneflies were expected to occur at this period. However, no relative has ever been designated convincingly.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In this paper, we report specimens belonging to a new fossil insect species collected from the Tupo Formation (Pennsylvanian; China). The wing venation of <it>Gulou carpenteri </it><b>gen. et sp. nov</b>. exhibits character states diagnostic of the order Plecoptera, but lack character states shared by unequivocal representatives of the order. Derived from this identification, the delimitation of the fossil species is ascertained based on comparison of several extant stonefly species. This comparative analysis allowed a trait present in <it>G. carpenteri </it><b>gen. et sp. nov</b>., but rarely occurring in extant species, to be documented and highlighted as atavistic. Affinities of taxa formerly proposed as putative stem-stoneflies are reconsidered in the light of the new discovery.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p><it>Gulou carpenteri </it><b>gen. et sp. nov</b>. is considered the only genuine Plecoptera reported from the Pennsylvanian. Continuing efforts on the systematics of Pennsylvanian winged insects indicate a fauna more diverse than previously appreciated. It suggests that insects already had a long, yet undocumented, history by this time.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T02:41:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e4d693fb161541599c46c66744ceb472 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2148 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T02:41:54Z |
| publishDate | 2011-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Evolutionary Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-e4d693fb161541599c46c66744ceb4722022-12-21T23:19:59ZengBMCBMC Evolutionary Biology1471-21482011-08-0111124810.1186/1471-2148-11-248At last, a Pennsylvanian stem-stonefly (Plecoptera) discoveredStark BillKondratieff BorisCui YingyingBéthoux OlivierRen Dong<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Stem-relatives of many winged insect orders have been identified among Pennsylvanian fossils (Carboniferous Period). Owing to their presumed 'basal' position in insect phylogeny, stoneflies were expected to occur at this period. However, no relative has ever been designated convincingly.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In this paper, we report specimens belonging to a new fossil insect species collected from the Tupo Formation (Pennsylvanian; China). The wing venation of <it>Gulou carpenteri </it><b>gen. et sp. nov</b>. exhibits character states diagnostic of the order Plecoptera, but lack character states shared by unequivocal representatives of the order. Derived from this identification, the delimitation of the fossil species is ascertained based on comparison of several extant stonefly species. This comparative analysis allowed a trait present in <it>G. carpenteri </it><b>gen. et sp. nov</b>., but rarely occurring in extant species, to be documented and highlighted as atavistic. Affinities of taxa formerly proposed as putative stem-stoneflies are reconsidered in the light of the new discovery.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p><it>Gulou carpenteri </it><b>gen. et sp. nov</b>. is considered the only genuine Plecoptera reported from the Pennsylvanian. Continuing efforts on the systematics of Pennsylvanian winged insects indicate a fauna more diverse than previously appreciated. It suggests that insects already had a long, yet undocumented, history by this time.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/11/248 |
| spellingShingle | Stark Bill Kondratieff Boris Cui Yingying Béthoux Olivier Ren Dong At last, a Pennsylvanian stem-stonefly (Plecoptera) discovered BMC Evolutionary Biology |
| title | At last, a Pennsylvanian stem-stonefly (Plecoptera) discovered |
| title_full | At last, a Pennsylvanian stem-stonefly (Plecoptera) discovered |
| title_fullStr | At last, a Pennsylvanian stem-stonefly (Plecoptera) discovered |
| title_full_unstemmed | At last, a Pennsylvanian stem-stonefly (Plecoptera) discovered |
| title_short | At last, a Pennsylvanian stem-stonefly (Plecoptera) discovered |
| title_sort | at last a pennsylvanian stem stonefly plecoptera discovered |
| url | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/11/248 |
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