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New fossil spongilla-flies from the lowermost Eocene amber of France (Insecta, Neuroptera, Sisyridae)

André NEL, Jean-Jacques MENIER, Alain WALLER, Gilbert HODEBERT & Gaël DE PLOËG

en Geodiversitas 25 (1) - Pages 109-117

Published on 29 April 2003

A critical list of the fossil Sisyridae is proposed. The new sisyrid genus and species Paleosisyra eocenica n. gen., n. sp. is described from the lowermost Eocene amber of the Paris basin. Its relationships within the family are discussed in a first phylogenetic analysis of the Sisyridae. It falls as sister genus of the recent genus Sisyra Burmeister, 1839 and had probably a similar chorology. Some specimens of P. eocenica n. gen., n. sp. are covered by pollen, suggesting that it lived on flowers, as for the recent Sisyra. Also, the male specimens of P. eocenica n. gen., n. sp. are clearly less frequent than the female, as for the recent Sisyra. This taxon is the oldest accurate record of the Sisyridae.


Keywords:

Insecta, Neuroptera, Sisyridae, Paleosisyra eocenica n. gen., n. sp., amber, lowermost Eocene, Paris basin, France, phylogenetic analysis, new genus, new species

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