Palaeocantharis, Hsiao & Li & Ren & Pang, 2021

Hsiao, Yun, Li, Yun, Ren, Dong & Pang, Hong, 2021, Morphological phylogenetics provide new insights into the classification and evolution of fossil soldier beetles from Mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber (Coleoptera: Cantharidae), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 193, pp. 1271-1293 : 1283

† PALAEOCANTHARIS GEN. NOV.

( FIGS 5–6 )

Z o o b a n k r e g i s t r a t i o n: u r n: l s i d: z o o b a n k. org:act: FAB17477-85E4-4D7D-95C9-895FFCD9E9B5.

Type species: † Palaeocantharis panna .

Diagnosis: Body small-sized (c. 6.0 mm) ( Fig. 5 ); eyes small, hemispherically prominent; head distinctly constricted behind eyes ( Fig. 6A, B ); apical maxillary palpomere bilaterally symmetric, securiform; mandibles unidentate on the inner margin; antennae serrate ( Fig. 5A ). Pronotum circular-shape, with pair of longitudinal median grooves ( Fig. 6C ). Elytra completely developed, with strongly elevated humeri and distinct reticulation ( Fig. 6D ). Legs elongate, with lobed tarsomere 4 and simple claws ( Figs 5 , 6F ).

Etymology: The name is composed of the prefix Palaeo -from Greek Παλαιό, old, and the Greek word κάνθαρισ, a beetle, derived from the genus Cantharis , type of Cantharidae . Gender: feminine.

Figures

Figure 5. Habitus of Palaeocantharis panna: A, dorsal view; B, ventral-lateral view. Scale bars: 2.0 mm.

Figure 6. Details of body parts of Palaeocantharis panna: A, head, dorsal view; B, ditto, ventral-lateral view; C, pronotum; D, elytra; E, caudal segments of abdomen, with gonostyli indicated by a black arrow; F, tarsi of hind legs. Scale bars: 1.0 mm (A, B, D); 0.5 mm (C, E, F).