The oldest fossil Ochodaeidae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) from the Middle Jurassic of China
Author
Ren, Dong
text
Zootaxa
2010
2553
65
68
journal article
10.5281/zenodo.196844
2fb3fe46-d3e3-4cda-a575-b7a8caa1b5d4
1175-5326
196844
Mesochodaeus
new genus
(
Figs. 1
,
2
)
Higher taxon names:
Coleoptera
: Polyphaga: Staphyliniformia:
Scarabaeoidea
:
Ochodaeidae
.
Family
Ochodaeidae Mulsant & Rey, 1871
; subfamily incertae sedis.
Type
species:
Mesochodaeus daohugouensis
sp. nov.
; Middle Jurassic, Daohugou beds, Ningcheng County, Inner
Mongolia
in
China
.
Here designated.
Etymology:
The name of the new genus refers to the era of its origin and the generic name
Ochodaeus
Dejean, 1821
(the
type
genus of this family); gender masculine.
Diagnosis and description:
In additional to the species description given below, this genus can be diagnosed by the mandibles externally rounded, visible beyond labrum in dorsal view; mesocoxae appear to be contiguous (but probably very narrowly separated in life); mesotibiae with 2 or 3 transverse carinae along outer edge.
Composition:
The
type
species only.
Remarks:
It is impossible to determine an exact position of the genus
Mesochodaeus
within the family, because the structure of the mesotibial and metatibial spurs, wing venation, and a number of other key taxonomic characters are unknown.