Carsten Brauckmann

On the Emsian (Lower Devonian) arthropods of the Rhenish Slate Mountains: 2. The synziphosurineWillwerathia

KurzfassungDie ursprünglich als Eurypteride beschriebeneWillwerathia laticeps (Størmer 1936) wird nunmehr als Angehörige der Synziphosurina erkannt und der Familie WeinberginidaeRichter &Richter 1929 zugeordnet. Unter Berücksichtigung aller erhältlichen Daten läßt sich an neu aufgesammeltem, zumeist disartikuliertem Material von der Lokalität, aus der der verschollene Holotypus stammt, darauf schließen, daß das Opisthosoma vonWillwerathia zehn Tergite umfaßte. Mit einer Carapax-Breite von etwa 90 mm warWillwerathia laticeps die größte bisher bekannte Synziphosurinen-Art. Das gemeinsame Vorkommen von Synziphosurinen und Eurypteriden bestätigt die Erkenntnisse über bereits früher beschriebene Taphozönosen.AbstractWillwerathia laticeps (Størmer 1936) originally described as a eurypterid is reinterpreted as a synziphosurine belonging to Family WeinberginidaeRichter &Richter 1929. Recently collected material from the locality, from which the destroyed holotype comes, suggests thatWillwerathia possessed ten opisthosomal tergites, deduced from all available arrays of disarticulates.Willwerathia is the largest synziphosurine yet discovered with a carapace approximately 90 mm across. The occurrence of synziphosurines with eurypterids mirrors previously described preservational associations.

Late Palaeozoic Paoliida is the sister group of Dictyoptera (Insecta: Neoptera)

Paoliida is an insect group of highly controversial composition and equally controversial affinities. Based on comprehensive reinvestigations we propose a new delimitation of the insect order Paoliida sensu nov. associating the families Paoliidae and Blattinopsidae on the basis of the following main wing venation characters: veins CuA convex and CuP concave separating from a rather long basal stem Cu; a short, more or less distinct, but generally convex arculus brace (crossvein) between M and CuA (more distinct in forewing than in hind wing), and a broad area containing veinlets, between CuP and CuA, with a general course of CuA making a double curve (autapomorphy); CuP straight or sigmoidal. The Paoliida is considered as a neopteran clade and potential sister group of the Dictyoptera on the basis of the presence of well-defined anterior branches of CuA, with the same convexity as the median vein and more concave than the posterior branches of the same vein (synapomorphy). The polarities of the other characters shared by these clades are discussed. New diagnoses of the order Paoliida and the family Paoliidae are provided after re-examination of the type material. We attribute Herbstiala herbsti to Paoliidae and consider Herbstialidae as a junior synonym of this family. The grylloblattid family Ideliidae is considered as a junior synonym of Paoliidae, transferring genera Stenaropodites, Aenigmidelia, Archidelia, Sojanidelia, Micaidelia, Acropermula and Mongoloidelia to this family. Kochopteron hoffmannorum and Protoblattina bouvieri are newly included in Paoliidae. Protoblattinopsis stubblefieldi is reinterpreted as a hind wing having highly specialized cubito-anal structures functionally analogous to the anal loop structure of the hind wing of the Mesozoic Isophlebioidea (Odonatoptera). We attribute Protoblattinopsis to Paoliida and consider Protoblattinidae as a junior synonym of Paoliidae. Furthermore, a new Paoliidae, Silesiapteron jarmilae gen. et sp. nov. is described from Upper Carboniferous sphaerosiderite concretion of Poland. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:296A17BD-2A84-4C1F-B19E-737DDFE7E17C

First record of the genus Ipsvicia (Hemiptera: Ipsviciidae) outside Gondwana - an Australian genus from the Upper Triassic of Germany

First record of the genus Ipsvicia (Hemiptera: Ipsviciidae) outside Gondwana - an Australian genus from the Upper Triassic of Germany Ipsvicia langenbergensis sp. n. (Hemiptera: Ipsviciidae) from the Upper Norian (Upper Triassic) deposits of the Langenberg near Seinstedt, Lower Saxony (Germany) is described and illustrated. This is the first definite record of the genus Ipsvicia Tillyard, 1919 outside Gondwana. The stratigraphy and palaeoenvironment of the Langenberg and the nearby Fuchsberg localities are briefly discussed.

Ein neuer Insektenfund aus dem Westfalium von Ibbenbüren (Westdeutschland)

From rocks of Westphalian D age of Ibbenbueren in Westphalia/W-Germany a new taxon of the Omaliidae Handlirsch, 1906 -Kelleropteron kaelberbergense n. g., n. sp. — is described. It is represented by only one wing. The new genus is characterized by the following features: the subcosta ends on the costa; the radius is very prominent and runs far distantly from the anterior border of the wing proximally; the branches of the sector radii and the medialis are directed distally, not posteriorly; a connective vein between medialis and sector radii is present; the cross-veins are relatively dense and irregularly branched.The Omaliidae are redefined, the relationships of their genera are discussed. The genera are arranged in 3 groups (Fig. 1). In theHeterologies-group - as in the Paoliidae — the subcosta ends on the radius; in theCacurgus — group the subcosta ends on the costa, a connective vein between medialis and sector radii is not present; in theOmalia- group the subcosta also ends on the costa, but a connective vein between medialis and sector radii has evolved.Kelleropteron is a member of the last group, differing fromOmalia above all by its denser, more irregularly arranged cross-veins.The Omaliidae are confined stratigraphically to the Westphalian and geographically to the EuropeanNorthamerican region. They apparently are descendants of the Paoliidae Handlirsch, 1906. In both families a connective vein between medialis and cubitus is present, and the anterior branch of the medialis is lost. The most important difference between them is seen in the cross-veins: within the Paoliidae they are very dense, similar to the archedictyon of the Palaeodictyoptera, but within the Omaliidae they are more widemeshed and more prominent.KurzfassungAus dem Westfalium D von Ibbenbüren wird ein zu den Omaliidae Handlirsch, 1906 gehörender Insektenflügel alsKelleropteron kaelberbergense n. g., n. sp. beschrieben. Die Omaliidae werden neu definiert, die zugehörigen Gattungen in 3 Gattungs-Gruppen gegliedert (Abb. 1). In derHeterologus-Grappe endet die Subcosta noch am Radius wie bei den Paoliidae; in derCacurgus-Gruppe endet sie an der Costa, eine Verspannungsader zwischen Medialis und dem Sector radii fehlt; in derOmalia- Grappe endet die Subcosta gleichfalls an der Costa, eine Verspannungsader ist jedoch ausgebildet. Da eine derartige Verspannungsader auch beiKelleropteron vorhanden ist, muß die neue Gattung dieser letzten Gruppe zugeordnet werden. VonOmalia ist sie vor allem durch ihre feinere, ungleichmäßiger ausgebildete Zwischenaderung unterschieden.Die Omaliidae sind stratigraphisch auf das Westfalium und geographisch auf den euramerikanischen Bereich beschränkt. Sie haben sich wahrscheinlich aus den Paoliidae Handlirsch, 1906 entwickelt. Beide Familien stimmen überein in der Anwesenheit einer Verbindungsader zwischen Medialis und Cubitus sowie der Reduktion des vorderen Medialis-Astes. Der wichtigste Unterschied zwischen ihnen betrifft die Ausbildung der Zwischenaderung: Bei den Paoliidae ist sie sehr zart, Archedictyon-artig gestaltet, bei den Omaliidae ist sie gröber, weitmaschiger, und die einzelnen Adern treten deutlicher hervor.

Bechala sommeri Ilger & Brauckmann, 2012 enlightens the Namurian griffenfly diversity (Insecta: Odonatoptera: Bechalidae)

Bechala sommeri Ilger & Brauckmann, 2012, the type species of the type genus of the early Late Carboniferous (Namurian) family Bechalidae Ilger & Brauckmann, 2012, is redescribed. It does not belong to the order Megasecoptera as previously proposed. The taxon is clearly attributable to Odonatoptera for the typical venation characters as CuA separating from MP obliquely, a true arculus with concave RP and convex MA emerging from a composite vein R+MA, short ScP, and presence of convex intercalaries IR2 and IR1 between the main branches of RP3/4, RP2 and RP1. We transfer this taxon with the monospecific family Bechalidae to Odonatoptera. A new diagnosis is given for Bechalidae and its type genus Bechala. Furthermore, the presence of an oblique subnodal crossvein very far from the ending of ScP and close to the base of RP2 confirms the hypothesis that the subnodus is a structure originally independent of the nodus with a different function in relation to wing tracheation. The Bechalidae are included in a clade (Meganeuridae–Sinierasipteridae–Bechalidae–Lapeyridae–Nodialata), in contrast to a sister group relationships between the two clades Meganisoptera (=Namurotypidae–Paralogidae–Kargalotypidae–Kohlwaldiidae–Meganeuridae) and Odonatoclada (=Lapeyridae–Nodialata), while the potential relationships between the Campylopteridae and the Lapeyridae and Nodialata are rejected. Bechala represents a ‘damselfly-like’ ecological niche in the Namurian, showing the high diversity of the earliest known Odonatoptera, strongly suggesting an Early Carboniferous, if not Late Devonian age for this pterygote clade.

PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE NEW FINDINGS OF MISSISSIPPIAN TRILOBITES IN THE BŘEZINA FORMATION (MORAVIAN KARST, CZECH REPUBLIC)

New fossiliferous layers of the Březina Formation were discovered in the valley of the Řicka Brook SSW of the village of Ochoz u Brna in 2011. Four taxa of trilobites were preliminary determined: Archegonus (Phillibole) cf. polleni (Woodward, 1894), Archegonus (Phillibole) cf. cauliquercus Brauckmann 1981, Liobole (Liobole) glabra proxima Chlupac, 1966 and ?Spinibole sp. The newly discovered fossiliferous beds belong to the Visean (Lower to ?Upper Visean, approximately cu IIγ–cu IIδ). The occurrence of limestone pebbles and limestone cobbles in aleuropelitic shales was also recorded. The Late Tournaisian foraminifer Darjella monilis Malakhova, 1964 was discovered in a dark grey limestone cobble derived from the Hady-Řicka limestone sequence of the Liseň Formation.

The smallest Neoptera (Baryshnyalidae fam. n.) from Hagen-Vorhalle (early Late Carboniferous: Namurian B; Germany)

Abstract With Baryshnyala occulta gen. et sp. n. (Baryshnyalidae fam. n.) we report a new small species from early Late Carboniferous (Pennsylvanian) deposits in Hagen-Vorhalle. It differs in its unique venation pattern and small size from all other Neoptera known from this Lagerstätte and other contemporaneous locations worldwide. With an estimated wing length of <10 mm it is by far the smallest species of Neoptera from Hagen-Vorhalle and is less than half as long as Heterologopsis ruhrensis Brauckmann & Koch, 1982 (~25 mm). The specimen shows some relations to the earliest Holometabola and may date back the first appearance of holometaboly to the Namurian B (early Bashkirian: Marsdenian). The new species increases the paleo-biodiversity and span of inter-specific variability within the early Neoptera. It shows that very small and tiny specimens and species can easily be overlooked.

Rasnitsynala sigambrorum gen. et sp. n., a small odonatopterid ("Eomeganisoptera", "Erasipteridae") from the early Late Carboniferous of Hagen-Vorhalle (Germany).

Abstract Besides Erasipteroides valentini (Brauckmann in Brauckmann, Koch & Kemper, 1985), Zessinella siope Brauckmann, 1988, and Namurotypus sippeli Brauckmann & Zessin, 1989, Rasnitsynala sigambrorum gen. et sp. n. is the fourth species of the Odonatoptera from the early Late Carboniferous (Early Pennsylvanian: Namurian B, Marsdenian) deposits of the important Hagen-Vorhalle Konservat-Lagerstätte in Germany. With its wing-span of about 55 mm it is unusually small even for the “Eomeganisoptera”. Its venation resembles other small “Eomeganisoptera”, in particular Zessinella siope. This is why it is here assigned to the probably paraphyletic “Erasipteridae” Carpenter, 1939.

First record of the family Trogossitidae (Insecta, Coleoptera) in the Late Pliocene deposits of Willershausen (Germany)

A new species of the genus Peltis (Coleoptera, Trogossitidae, Peltinae), P. antehercynica sp. nov., is described from the Pliocene lake sediments of the former clay pit of Willershausen (Lower Saxony, Germany). The clearly visible antennae and elytra sculpturing of fossil provide clear morphological information about generic position, and other features, some of them unique in the Peltinae, show that it is an independent new way. In addition, the importance, geology and stratigraphy of the Willershausen Fossil Lagerstätte is briefly discussed.KurzfassungEine neue Art der Gattung Peltis (Coleoptera, Trogossitidae, Peltinae), P. antehercynica sp. nov., wird aus den jungpliozänen Ablagerungen der ehemaligen Tongrube von Willershausen (Niedersachsen, Deutschland) beschrieben. Die deutlich erkennbaren Antennen und die Skulpturierung der Elytren des Fossils liefern klare morphologische Informationen zur generischen Stellung. Weitere Merkmale, einige davon einzigartig innerhalb der Peltinae, zeigen, dass es sich um eine selbständige neue Art handelt. Ferner wird eine kurze Übersicht über die Geologie, das mögliche Alter, aber auch die Bedeutung der ehemaligen Tongrube von Willershausen diskutiert.

Ein neuer Palaeodictyopteren-Fund aus dem westdeutschen Namurium

AbstractFrom the Namurian B of the Bergisches Land the oldest known remain of the Dictyoneuridae is described, namedSchmidtopteron adictyon n. g., n. sp. Present is a wing with the following characteristics: 1. shape long and slender; 2. subcosta relativly short; 3. radius nearly as long as the wing; 4. radius-sector branched off from the radius at 1/5 of the length of the wing (prox.), subdivided into 4 branches; 5. medialis subdivided also at 1/5 of the length of the wing; MEp with 2 branches; 6. cubitus subdivided at 1/10 of the length of the wing, CUp undivided; 7. anal veins 4 in number, separated each from the others in full length; at least A1 und A2 bifurcated; 8. A1 and CUp joined by a short connecting vein; 9. archaeodictyon not present. Schmidtopteron adictyon is the most primitive Namurian wing known. Its systematic position results from the structure of the only little branched veins. The absence of the archaeodictyon may be attributed to preservation: only the external mould of the upper surface of the wing is preserved. From all other genera of the Dictyoneuridae,Schmidtopteron is separated by the connection between A1 and CUp. This feature, and the relative large anal area, show thatSchmidtopteron is not the ancestor of younger Dictyoneuridae, but an early side branch of the evolution of this family.ZusammenfassungAus dem Namurium B des Bergischen Landes wird ein Insektenflügel als ältester bisher bekannter Rest eines Dictyoneuriden unter dem NamenSchmidtopteron adityon n. g., n. sp. beschrieben. Seine systematische Stellung ergibt sich aus dem Bau des nur wenig unterteilten Geäders. Das Fehlen des Archaeodictyons ist wahrscheinlich durch die Erhaltung bedingt; denn es liegt lediglich der Abdruck der Flügeloberseite vor. Von allen übrigen Gattungen der Dictyoneuridae istSchmidtopteron getrennt durch die Verbindung zwischen A1 und CUp. Dieses Merkmal sowie das relativ große Analfeld zeigen an, daß es sich beiSchmidtopteron nicht um eine Ahnenform jüngerer Dictyoneuridae handelt, sondern um einen frühen Seitenzweig in der Evolution dieser Familie.