A well-preserved true dragonfly (Anisoptera: Gomphides: Burmagomphidae fam. nov.) from Cretaceous Burmese amber

Abstract

Amber inclusions have been studied for several centuries, but true dragonflies are extremely rare, with only several poorly preserved wings recorded. In Burmese amber, odonatans are relatively diverse, but true dragonflies are still rare. An excellently preserved true dragonfly, Burmagomphides electronica Zheng, Nel & Wang gen. et sp. nov., representing the new family Burmagomphidae Zheng, Nel & Wang fam. nov., is described here from Cretaceous Burmese amber. This is the first well-preserved true dragonfly with complete wings in this amber. It is attributed to the clade Oligophlebiata because it has symmetrical RP branches at the midfork and a well-developed trigonal planate as in the clade Hagenioidea, and the vein CuAa distinctly shortened with reduced pectinate branching as in Brevicubitalia; it differs, however, from the latter two in having a narrow hind wing base.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:9E2B3C24-B4D7-43E5-B013-32245D301167

Keywords:

• Gomphides
• Anisoptera
• Odonata
• Cretaceous
• Burmese amber

Acknowledgements

We offer our sincere gratitude to an anonymous reviewer for the very useful comments on the earlier version of the manuscript. This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant numbers 41572010, 41622201, 41688103], the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences [grant number 2011224] and the HKU Seed Funding Program for Basic Research [grant number 201210159058].

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant numbers 41572010, 41622201, 41688103], the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences [grant number 2011224] and the HKU Seed Funding Program for Basic Research [grant number 201210159058].