Mesochodaeus, Ren, Dong, 2010

Ren, Dong, 2010, The oldest fossil Ochodaeidae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) from the Middle Jurassic of China, Zootaxa 2553, pp. 65-68 : 65

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.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Photograph of the holotype of Mesochodaeus daohugouensis.