Elektrogomphaeschna annekeae, Pinkert, Stefan, Bechly, Günter & Nel, André, 2017

Pinkert, Stefan, Bechly, Günter & Nel, André, 2017, First record of hawker dragonflies from Eocene Baltic amber (Odonata: Anisoptera: Gomphaeschnidae), Zootaxa 4272 (2), pp. 263-275 : 268

Elektrogomphaeschna annekeae sp. nov.

( Figs. 5–8 )

Material. Holotype MNHN.F. A58663 , stored in the collection of the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle in Paris, France.

Etymology. Named after the wife of first author, Anneke.

Age and outcrop. Eocene (most probably Upper Eocene, Bartonian or Priabonian), Baltic amber.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from the type species by the distinctly larger size (forewing length about 43 mm instead of only 27–31 mm), correlated with larger number of postnodal crossveins (15 instead of 12); Ax 2 in more distal position at level of middle of triangle (instead of level of basal angle of triangle or even slightly basal of triangle); origin of Mspl separated by three cells (instead of four cells) from distal angle of triangle.

Description. Two forewings with bases missing, fossilized with an ant, a fly and a curculionid beetle as syninclusions. Forewing hyaline, preserved part 36.0 mm long (estimated total length about 43 mm); 7.3 mm wide; from arculus to nodus about 13.0 mm; from nodus to pterostigma 18.5 mm. Pterostigma 2.5 mm long and 0.8 mm wide, covering three cells, and strongly braced by a very oblique (but straight) crossvein aligned with its basal side. Fifteen postnodal crossveins between nodus and pterostigma, not aligned with thirteen corresponding postsubnodal crossveins between RA and RP1. Vein Ax 2 in basal position on level the ventral side of triangle, stronger than six secondary antenodal crossveins between costal margin and ScP that are not aligned with those of second row between ScP and RA. ScP fusing with costal margin at nodus, of normal anisopteran-type. Six antesubnodal crossveins visible in median part of area between RA and RP basal of subnodus with an incomplete distal gap (with two crossveins) immediately basal of subnodus. Discoidal triangle probably two-celled, very elongated with a slightly bent distal side MAb; length of anterior side probably 4.3 mm; of basal side probably 2.0 mm; of distal side MAb 4.1 mm. Hypertriangle triangular, free of crossveins in preserved part, and rather narrow (length about 5.5 mm; max. width 0.5 mm). Basal area between RP and MA probably traversed by numerous antefurcal crossveins (four are preserved). Two bridge crossveins basal of subnodus. Base of RP2 aligned with subnodus. Only a single oblique vein ‘O’, one cell distal of subnodus. A long and nearly straight Rspl, parallel to IR2 with only a single row of cells between it and IR2; at least one convex secondary vein visible in area between Rspl and RP3/4. IR2 nearly straight. RP2 and IR2 begin to diverge somewhat basal of pterostigma with three rows of cells in widened area between these two veins. RP2 weakly curved but not undulated. RP2 and RP1 basally only slightly diverging with a single row of cells in-between, but four cells basal of pterostigma they become more strongly divergent with two or more rows of cells and a well-defined long and nearly straight IR1 in-between. RP3/4 and MA parallel and gently curved with only a single row of cells in-between, except for a short area with two rows of cells near posterior margin of wing. Mspl long and parallel to MA with a single row of cells between it and MA. Postdiscoidal area distally strongly widened (width near discoidal triangle 2.1 mm; width at wing margin 4.8 mm); two rows of cells in postdiscoidal area immediately distal of discoidal triangle; MP ending distal of nodus. Cubital area hardly preserved.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Elektrogomphaeschna annekeae, holotype MNHN. F. A 58663. A, drawing of wing apex; B, drawing of wing base (scale bars represent 3 mm).

FIGURE 6. Elektrogomphaeschna annekeae, holotype MNHN. F. A 58663. A, photograph of wing base; B, photograph of bases of RP 3 / 4 and IR 2 (scale bars represent 3 mm).

FIGURE 7. Elektrogomphaeschna annekeae, holotype MNHN. F. A 58663. A, photograph of antesubnodal area; B, photograph of nodus (scale bars represent 3 mm).

FIGURE 8. Elektrogomphaeschna annekeae, holotype MNHN. F. A 58663. A, photograph of mid part of wing; B, photograph of wing apex (scale bars represent 3 mm).