The first species of Thaumatomeropidae (Insecta: Mecoptera) from the Middle Triassic of China Author Lian, Xin-Neng Institute of Palaeontology, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Earth System Science, Yunnan Key Laboratory for Palaeobiology, MEC International Joint Laboratory for Palaeobiology and Palaeoenvironment, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China & Southwest United Graduate School, Kunming 650092, China Author Cai, Chen-Yang State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China Author Feng, Zhuo Institute of Palaeontology, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Earth System Science, Yunnan Key Laboratory for Palaeobiology, MEC International Joint Laboratory for Palaeobiology and Palaeoenvironment, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China & Southwest United Graduate School, Kunming 650092, China Author Huang, Di-Ying State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China text Zootaxa 2023 2023-12-29 5396 1 16 21 https://www.mapress.com/zt/article/download/zootaxa.5396.1.5/52598 journal article 283452 10.11646/zootaxa.5396.1.5 d0eea1e9-ce1c-4bff-ad66-1a6c3db5f506 1175-5326 10441779 3ED20C81-5257-4892-A564-D49E10344942 Thaumatomerope sinensis Lian & Huang , sp. nov. Fig. 1 Material. Holotype , NIGP203509 ; hindwing or forewing unknown, parts of wing base, wing anterior and apex missing. Length 8.0 mm, width 3.0 mm. Etymology. Name after sina , which means China . Diagnosis. Sc with 6 branches, Rs with only 6 branches, the posterior last branch of Rs single, the anterior first branch of M multi-branched, M with 13 or 14 branches. FIGURE 1. Thaumatomerope sinensis Lian & Huang , sp. nov. , holotype, NIGP203509, upper Middle Triassic Yanchang Formation at Hejiafang Village, Tongchuan City. A , Photograph taken when moistened with 75% alcohol under vertical reflected light. B , Photograph taken under lateral reflected light. C , Line drawing of wing. Scale bars = 1 mm. Type locality and horizon. A locality near the Hejiafang Village , Tongchuan City , Shaanxi Province , Northwest China ; the Chang 7 Member of the Yanchang Formation ; late Middle Triassic (Ladinian) . Description. A relatively broad wing, wing base petiole-like, venation stronger near wing base; many crossveins blurry, which may not be able to identify; Sc with 6 comb-like branches, several crossveins intercepted between Sc branches, crossveins denser near base; humeral vein strong and distinct; R 1 curved, apex with one extra small anterior branch, possible more veins in the area that not preserved; pterostigma present, but only preserved the apical part, with darker color; Rs comb-like, with 6 branches, several crossveins detected; M with 13 confirmed dichotomous branches, the first main branch of M subdivided into 5 branches; the second main branch of M subdivided into 8 branches, some forks small; some crossveins connecting branches of M; CuA (or last branched of M) single, apex curved, fused with M stem near wing base, with 3 crossveins connecting M; CuP (or CuA) single, base missed. Remarks. The new species, Thaumatomerope sinensis Lian & Huang , sp. nov. , generally differs from Th . sogdiana Rasnitsyn, 1974 by its smaller wing size (wing 8.0 mm long vs . ≥ 9.0 mm), reduced Rs branches (6 branches vs . 10–14 branches), posterior last branch of Rs single instead of multi-branched, and anterior first branch of M multi-branched instead of 2 branches or single; differs from Th . minuta Rasnitsyn, 1974 by its larger wing size (wing 8 mm long vs . 5.5 mm ), more complicated Sc (6 branches vs . 4 branches), reduced Rs branches (6 branches vs . 9 branches), posterior last branch of Rs single instead of multi-branched, and anterior first branch of M multi-branched instead of 2 branches or single; differs from Th . madygenica Rasnitsyn, 1974 by its smaller wing size (wing 8.0 mm long vs . ≥ 11.5 mm ), reduced Rs branches (6 branches vs . 14–18 branches), and posterior last branch of Rs single instead of multi-branched; differs from Th . oligoneura Rasnitsyn, 1974 by its broader wing, smaller wing size (wing 8.0 mm long vs . ≥ 13.0 mm), posterior last branch of Rs single instead of multi-branched, and anterior first branch of M multi-branched instead of 2 branches or single.