Trogossitidae: A review of the beetle family, with a catalogue and keys
Author
Kolibac, Jiri
Moravian Museum, Department of Entomology, Hviezdoslavova 29 a, 627 00 Brno, Czech Republic
text
ZooKeys
2013
2013-12-31
366
1
194
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.366.6172
journal article
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.366.6172
1313-2970-366-1
FFD8DC462108382BCB68FFC9FF97F235
577560
† Genus
Sinopeltis Yu, Leschen,
Ślipinski
, Ren & Pang, 2012
Map 6
Sinopeltis
Yu, Y., Leschen, R. A. B.,
Ślipinski
, A., Ren, D. & Pang, H. 2012: 246.
Type genus.
Sinopeltis jurassica
Yu, Leschen,
Ślipinski
, Ren & Pang, 2012
Remarks.
This genus, containing two species, has only recently been established. The fossils are well preserved, with both part and counterpart. The species are relatively large, body shape perfectly appropriate to
Peltinae
or
Lophocaterinae
. The eyes are distinctly elevate, much more so than those in extant
Ancyronini
. The 3-segmented antennal club of
Sinopeltis
jurassica
is "weakly asymmetrical" (quite symmetrical in the original picture), that of
Sinopeltis amoena
is "strongly asymmetrical" (inconspicuously so in the picture). The mesocoxae appear contiguous (unknown state in
Trogossitidae
) in
Sinopeltis jurassica
, whereas they are narrowly separated in
Sinopeltis amoena
. Both discrepancies mentioned may be the results of different positions of body parts (coxae, antennae) assumed during fossilization. Unfortunately, neither the ends of the tibiae nor the tarsi and mouthparts are described in either species, which leads to a lack of direct evidence for classification. Both
Sinopeltis jurassica
and
Sinopeltis amoena
are about 165 million years old and belong, if their classification is correct, together with species of
Thoracotes
, among the oldest known fossil members of
Trogossitidae
.
Description.
"
Body broadly ovoid and parallel-sided. Antenna distinctly clubbed with antennomeres symmetrical
[S. jurassica: "
weakly asymmetrical
"; S. amoena: "
strongly asymmetrical
"];
antennal insertions visible in dorsal view. Eyes convex. Frontoclypeal suture present. Antennal grooves present and parallel. Anterior pronotal angles well developed and subrounded. Mesoventrite not vaulted. Mesocoxae widely separated
[see
"note"
in Remarks].
Metaventrite lacking axillary space and metakatepisternal suture. Metacoxae not excavate and narrowly separated. Elytra with seriate punctation (in one fossil). Abdominal ventrite 1 about as long as 2, intercoxal process narrow. Body length 7.5-7.6 mm, width 4.5-4.8 mm.
" (Diagnosis of the genus according to
Yu, Leschen,
Ślipinski
, Ren & Pang 2012
.)
Distribution.
China: Inner Mongolia, Daohugou. Middle Jurassic, Jiulongshan formation.
Species:
†
Sinopeltis jurassica
Yu, Leschen,
Ślipinski
, Ren & Pang, 2012; China: Inner Mongolia; Middle Jurassic (AD)
Yu, Y., Leschen, R. A. B.,
Ślipinski
, A., Ren, D. & Pang, H. 2012: 247
†
Sinopeltis amoena
Yu, Leschen,
Ślipinski
, Ren & Pang, 2012; China: Inner Mongolia; Middle Jurassic (AD)
Yu, Y., Leschen, R. A. B.,
Ślipinski
, A., Ren, D. & Pang, H. 2012: 247