Journal
DEUTSCHE ENTOMOLOGISCHE ZEITSCHRIFT
Volume 68, Issue 1, Pages 207-224Publisher
PENSOFT PUBLISHERS
DOI: 10.3897/dez.68.66181
Keywords
Eocene; new genus; new species; paleoentomology; systematics; taxonomy; Trechitae
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Funding
- German Research Council (DFG) [SCHM 3005/3-2]
- Harold E. and Leona M. Rice Endowment Fund at Oregon State University
- state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern [DFG INST 264/130-1 FUGG]
- German Research Council [DFG INST 264/130-1 FUGG]
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CBalticeler kerneggeri is a new genus and species of beetle described from Eocene Baltic amber. It possesses unique features such as lack of sexually dimorphic characters, long and thin mandibles and maxillae, and four synapomorphies indicating its placement within a large clade of carabids.
CBalticeler kerneggeri gen. nov., sp. nov., is described based on six fossil specimens preserved in Eocene Baltic amber and imaged using light microscopy and X-ray micro-computed tomography. Based on certain characters observed in the fossil species it is considered a middle grade Carabidae, outside of the large family Harpalinae (as it possesses a scrobal seta, the lack of which is a synapomorphy of that subfamily), but possessing four synapomorphies that indicate Balticeler belongs to a large clade of carabids including Harpalinae (anisochaetous Grade B antennal cleaner, conjunct mesocoxae, closed procoxal cavities, and a well-developed external lobe of the metepimeron). This remarkable beetle has several striking features, including lack of externally-visible sexually dimorphic characters, lack of lateral borders on the pronotum, and very long and thin mandibles and maxillae. In combination, these states are unique within Carabidae. We consider the presence of a dorsally completely open aedeagal median lobe as a synapomorphy of the fossil species with the subfamily Trechinae, a pubescent and relatively long second antennomere and a 4+2+2 pattern of umbilicate setae as synapomorphies of the supertribe Trechitae, and a quadrisetose clypeus as a synapomorphy with the Trechitae clade Bembidarenini + Trechini sensu Maddison et al. (2019). As it lacks a synapomorphy of Bembidarenini + Trechini, we propose that it is a member of the stem group of that clade.
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