Abstract
The fossil species Prochaeradodis enigmaticus Piton, 1940, from Menat (France, Paleocene) has been regarded as a crown-Mantodea (praying mantis) and was subsequently used as one of the very few temporal calibration points relevant for the order. Ambiguities in previous descriptions prompted us to re-examine the type material. Based on our new observations and a broad comparative analysis across Dictyoptera, we recognized three independent morphological character states supporting an unequivocal placement of the fossil within Blattodea (cockroaches and termites). These states are: 1) in forewing, the AA area has intercalary veins; 2) in forewing, ScP is short and oblique; and 3) in hind wing, CuA has many posterior branches not reaching the posterior wing margin but the cubi- tal furrow. This new placement discounts the use of this fossil as a Mantodea tree calibration point.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 355-362 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Geodiversitas |
Volume | 40 |
Issue number | 15 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 2 2018 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Blattaria
- Blattida
- Blattoptera
- Dating
- Morphology
- Palaeoentomology
- Polyneoptera
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Geology
- Palaeontology