Sobytie, Vršanský, Peter, 2010

Vršanský, Peter, 2010, A new genus and species of cockroach (Blattida: Phyloblattidae) from the Permian / Triassic boundary beds of Tunguska Basin in eastern Siberia, Russia, Zootaxa 2353, pp. 55-61 : 56-57

Sobytie gen.n.

Type species. Sobytie tungusicum sp. n., by monotypy.

Differential diagnosis. The present taxon differs from all other representatives of the family in having comparatively short Sc; expanded R with differentiated RS reaching apex, main M stem directed anteriorly, well organized V-shaped cross-veins of both wings; hindwing with a polyphagoid scheme of venation (remigium-supporting A1 with basal short branches).

Description. Both wings with distinct, mostly straight but locally zig-zag intercalaries on the lower surface of convex membrane folds (fig. 1B, 2D). Distinct cross veins present in both wings, changing into close network locally in clavus and hindwing CuA area. Forewing costal field wide, Sc branched. R1 and RS weakly separated, but RS present. M expanded, branches straight or very slightly arched. CuA with anteriormost branch further branched. Anal veins branched.

Hindwing with simplified venation, according to the presence of curved, branched A1 with short blind branches in the remigium, the pleating was likely not fan-like. Sc very strong but short. R1 very short, branched terminally, RS branches also short. Media reduced to few veins. CuA secondarily branched, with stochastical occurrence of fenestrate areas between intercalaries and cross-veins. A1 with short basal branches and long, nearly straight anteriormost branch.

Remarks. There are small (forewing length 9–13mm), similar representatives of the genus Phyloblatta , known from the Permian of Elmo in U.S.A. and Obora in Czech Republic; P. compacta (Sellards, 1908) ; Schneider 1984, pl VIII, figs. 9–10. Nevertheless, the shorter Sc, expanded R, different organization of M and CuA branches (see diagnosis) and much better organized V-shaped cross-veins are good arguments to distinguish the new genus. The hindwing with remigium-attached A1 differs from the Phyloblatta , which does not have basal blind branches. Otherwise the hindwing can be compared with some Permocarboniferous Phyloblattidae (Schneider 1984) (for phylogenetic relations see discussion). RS is apparently (fig. 2b) part of R and not M merged to the distal part of R (as in Schneider 1977, 1983), because of a regular venation in that area – this pattern is characteristic for phyloblattid descendants (unless RS is actually a merged cockroach M in general).

Zig-zag intercalaries forming a secondary corrugation (see Schneider 1984 a, pp. 9–14, pls. 2, 5) appear increasingly from the Early Permian and are typical for most Late Permian phyloblattids. Intercalaries are distributed on the bottom side of the membrane, which rises over the wing profile near them (see fig. 1B).

Etymology. The genus name is the transliteration of обытие (Russian for event); gender neuter.