A new Middle Jurassic Chinese fossil clarifies the systematic composition of the Heterophlebioptera (Odonata: Trigonoptera)

Abstract

Juraheterophlebia sinica, a new species of damsel-dragonfly, is described from the Middle Jurassic of China. Its fore- and hind wings in connection to the body allows comparison of the type genera of the families Erichschmidtiidae and Juraheterophlebiidae, respectively based on a forewing and a hind wing. Juraheterophlebiidae is a junior synonym of the Erichschmidtiidae. The new fossil confirms the previous attributions of Erichschmidtia and Juraheterophlebia to the clade Heterophlebioptera.

本文描述了中国中侏罗世少女蜻蜓的一个新种 Juraheterophlebia sinica。由于它的前翅和后翅与身体连着, 使得我们有可能分别根据前翅和后翅将科Erichschmidtiidae和科Juraheterophlebiidae的标准属进行比较。 Juraheterophlebiidae是Erichschmidtiidae的幼体异名。新化石确证了原先的分类: Erichschmidtia和Juraheterophlebia属于Heterophlebioptera类群。

Key words:

• Erichschmidtiidae
• Juraheterophlebiidae junior syn.
• new species
• morphology

Acknowledgements

Financial support was provided by the National Basic Research Program of China (2012CB821903), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (91114201 and J1210006) and the Outstanding Youth Foundation of Jiangsu Province (BK2012049).