Nuurcala srneci, Vršanský, 2008
|
publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.4202/app.2008.0109 |
|
persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/DC7B87AA-3400-945D-AF2E-F8EAFC1BF9C3 |
|
treatment provided by |
Felipe |
|
scientific name |
Nuurcala srneci |
| status |
sp. nov. |
Nuurcala srneci sp. nov.
Fig. 2 View Fig .
Derivation of the name: After my friend Ivan Srnec (former employee of the Slovak Embassy in the Russian Federation) and his family, who offered kind assistance during my research.
Holotype: PIN 3790 View Materials /6. A complete female.
Type locality: Khurilt, Mongolia.
Type horizon: Bed 210/24, Khurilt Member, Dzun−Bain Formation, Barremian or Aptian, Early Cretaceous.
Material.— Holotype only.
Diagnosis.—The genus Nuurcala is characterized by its small size and by having both pairs of wings shortened, a large head and characteristic colouration. N. srneci differs from its only known congener, N. popovi Vršanský, 2003 , by the lack of terminal dichotomies on the major veins, and reduced venation in all vein systems. The total number of veins meeting the wing margin before the anal veins is about 35 (max. 37), whereas it is more than 50 in N. popovi . Nuurcala srneci has short forewings (length/width = 11.5–12.1/ 3.6–4.1 mm), while the forewings of N. popovi are much longer (length/width = 17.0– 26.0/ 4.7–7.3 mm). The head of N. srneci is of roughly the same size as that of N. popovi , i.e., comparatively large (width 3.4 mm, or 0.7 × versus 0.5 × pronotal width in N. popovi ), and the pronotum (as in Fig. 2 View Fig ) (3.4/ 4.6 mm or 0.37 × versus 0.3 × wing length in N. popovi ) is more derived in form, i.e., transversely asymmetrical, with respect to N. popovi ( Vršanský 2003: 121, fig.1).
Description.—Head large, 2.9 mm wide. Pronotum almost quadrate in outline (width/length: 4.4/ 3.4 mm), all margins slightly convex. Forewings asymmetrical (not as a result of deformation, but due to the number of veins in respective vein systems and their branching pattern), left wing without branched posterior CuA branch, narrow with rounded apex; right wing comparatively wide, with apex subacute and richly terminally branched CuA veins. Characteristics: Left wing Sc: 3±; R 16; M 11; Cu 8; Right wing Sc: 3±; R 13; M 6; Cu 14. Colouration as in Fig. 2A, B View Fig . Hindwings with reduced venation (Sc 5+; R 4–5+ [hardly visible]; RS 5+; M 2–5+ [right wing]; Cu 7+). Body wide (6.0 mm), terminal abdominal segments with strongly curved posterior and anterior margins. Female with long (2.1 mm or more) external ovipositor and cerci at least 3.9 mm long, with up to 13 or more subequal cercomeres.
Discussion.—The genus is characterised by several apomorphies for the family, such as the short forewings and hindwings, small pronotum and large head (the oldest and presumed most primitive representatives of the family as well as their precursors in Phyloblattidae have large pronotums and small heads), sophisticated colouration similar to taxa close to Rhipidoblattina ( Caloblattinidae ), and richly branched CuA veins in the right wing only (this asymmetry is apparently derived).
The long external ovipositor and long cerci are plesiomorphic characters, typical of primitive and early cockroaches. The small size of this new species might indicate a more derived and specialised habitat, or a free−living and active lifestyle when compared with its congener; however, the stronger asymmetry of the forewings of N. srneci does not support this conclusion. Generally, asymmetry increases with decrease in flying abilities, as shown in several cockroach families. In this respect the members of this family were perhaps weak fliers. Notably in the present genus, the asymmetry of wings is expressed as terminal branches of CuA in the right forewing. Reduced venation and smaller size are strong apomorphies and thus N. srneci is interpreted as the sister taxon or a descendant of N. popovi .
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.