A unique, large-sized stem Odonata (Insecta) found in the early Pennsylvanian of New Brunswick (Canada)

• Published in: Mitteilungen aus dem Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin. Fossil record 2021-07, Vol.24 (2), p.207-221
• Main Authors: Béthoux, Olivier, Norrad, Rowan E., Stimson, Matthew R., King, Olivia A., Allen, Luke F., Deregnaucourt, Isabelle, Hinds, Steven J., Lewis, Jake H., Schneider, Jörg W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aquatic insects; Biodiversity; Coastal inlets; Comparative analysis; Cultural heritage; Digital cameras; Earth Sciences; Insects; Lakes; Life Sciences; Museums; New species; Odonata; Paleontology; Populations and Evolution; Sciences of the Universe; Stems; Systematics, Phylogenetics and taxonomy; Venation
• ISSN: 2193-0074; 2193-0066; 2193-0074
• DOI: 10.5194/fr-24-207-2021

A stem relative of dragon- and damselflies, Brunellopteron norradi Béthoux, Deregnaucourt and Norrad gen. et sp. nov., is documented based on a specimen found at Robertson Point (Grand Lake, New Brunswick, Canada; Sunbury Creek Formation; early Moscovian, Pennsylvanian) and preserving the basal half of a hindwing. A comparative analysis of the evolution of wing venation in early odonates demonstrates that it belongs to a still poorly documented subset of species. Specifically, it displays a MP + CuA fusion, a CuA + CuP fusion, and a CuP + AA fusion, but it lacks the “extended” MP + Cu / CuA fusion and the “extended” (CuP / CuA + CuP) + AA fusion, the occurrence of which is typical of most Odonata, including Meganeura-like species. The occurrence of intercalary veins suggests that its closest relative might be Gallotypus oudardi Nel, Garrouste and Roques, 2008, from the Moscovian of northern France.