A new mayfly subfamily sheds light on the early evolution and Pangean origin of Baetiscidae (Insecta: Ephemeroptera).

ABSTRACT: The family Baetiscidae Edmunds & Traver, 1954 is recognisable among mayflies due to its bizarre larvae, equipped with a robust and spiked thoracic notal shield covering part of the abdomen up to sixth segment. Originally being described as extant species from the USA and Canada, Baetiscidae were later found in the fossil record as well, specifically in Cretaceous of Brazil and Eocene Baltic amber. An enigmatic piece of fossil evidence are two larvae from the Early Cretaceous Koonwarra Fossil Bed in Australia, which have been presumed as attributable to Baetiscidae and briefly discussed in previous studies. In the present contribution, we reinvestigate these fossils and confirm their attribution to the family Baetiscidae. These larvae are depicted and described as Koonwarrabaetisca jelli ge

SUBMITTER: Godunko RJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10796926 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature