AZC 46 Supplement (2003)

Issue:

VOL NA

Keywords:

Mecoptera, Bittacidae, Thyridates, phylogeny, biogeography, Africa, South America, Late Paleocene, new species, new combinations

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Phylogenetic and biogeographical remarks on Thyridates (Mecoptera: Bittacidae), with the first fossil record of the taxon

• Julián F. PETRULEVICIUS

Abstract:

Until now, Thyridates was considered an American genus. In this work seven African species of Bittacus are transferred to Thyridates: T. stanleyi (BYERS, 1968), T. erythrostigma (BYERS, 1975), T. weelei (ESBEN-PETERSEN, 1913), T. nebulosus (KLUG, 1838), T. testaceous (KLUG, 1838), T. oreinus (NAVÁS, 1914), and T. chevalieri (NAVÁS, 1908). A new species of Thyridates from the late Paleocene of Argentina is described. The geographic relationships between species of the genus suggest the idea of a Gondwanan origin of this group before separation of Africa and South America in the Lower Cretaceous.