Talbragarus averyi Oberprieler & Oberprieler

Oberprieler, Rolf G. & Oberprieler, Stefanie K., 2012, Talbragarus averyi gen. et sp. n., the first Jurassic weevil from the southern hemisphere (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea: Nemonychidae), Zootaxa 3478, pp. 256-266 : 261-263

Talbragarus averyi Oberprieler & Oberprieler , sp. n.

( Figs. 1–10 )

Description. Length excluding rostrum 8.5–9.5 mm. Head dorsally convex, vertex sparsely coarsely punctate. Rostrum at base a third as wide as base of head; basal half punctate. Eyes dorsally separated by about basal width of rostrum. Antennae with funicular segments about 2x longer than wide, club segments subequal in length but apex of last not preserved ( Fig. 3 ). Prothorax about 1.5x wider than long; distal margin slightly sinuate, basal margin evenly arcuate; punctures at base partially confluent; metanepisterna finely punctate. Elytra about 2.5x longer than prothorax; scutellary strioles extending to about anterior third of elytra but punctures in posterior half very small and compressed, striae 1 kinked at end of scutellary strioles. Ventrites sparsely, coarsely but very shallowly punctate.

Material examined (2 specimens). Holotype: part (AM F.137581; Figs. 1, 3–5 ) and counterpart (AM F.137582; Figs. 2 , 6 ); length 9.5 mm; dorsolateral view showing head with rostrum and partially preserved antennae, dorsal part of prothorax, spread elytra, left fore femur ( Fig. 3 ) and apical three ventrites; both part and counterpart with crack across elytra; Talbragar Fish Bed (Upper Jurassic: Kimmeridgian, 151 ± 4 Ma), Gulgong, N.S.W., Australia; April 2011, S. Avery coll. Paratype: part (AM F.137583; Figs. 7 , 9 ) and counterpart (AM F.137584; Figs. 8 , 10 ); length 8.5 mm; dorsal view showing head with rostrum, prothorax, elytra and parts of right fore and middle femora; part with crack across prothorax; Talbragar Fish Bed (Upper Jurassic: Kimmeridgian, 151 ± 4 Ma), Gulgong, N.S.W., Australia; July 2009, S. Avery coll. Both specimens deposited in the Australian Museum, Sydney, Australia.

Etymology. The species is named for its discoverer, Steven Avery, who participated in the excavation of insect fossils at the Talbragar Fish Bed for several years and found these two weevils and many other fine insect specimens there.

Remarks. The two specimens differ slightly in size and some small structural details but display no significant differences in any of the preserved structures that would allow an assignment to two different species. Even though the tip of the rostrum is not preserved in the holotype ( Figs. 1–2 ), the rostra of both specimens are very similar in length and shape, suggesting that the specimens represent the same gender. There are no clues, however, as to whether they may be males or females.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 4. Talbragus averyi gen. et sp. n., holotype. 1. part (AM F. 137581); 2. counterpart (AM F. 137582); 3. left antennal club of part, magnified; 4. left fore femur of part, magnified.

FIGURES 5 – 6. Talbragus averyi gen. et sp. n., holotype; 5. part (AM F. 137581); 6. counterpart (AM F. 137582).

FIGURES 7 – 8. Talbragus averyi gen. et sp. n., paratype. 7. part (AM F. 137583); 8. counterpart (AM F. 137584).

FIGURES 9 – 10. Talbragus averyi gen. et sp. n., paratype. 9. part (AM F. 137583); 10. counterpart (AM F. 137584).