Paoliidae Handlirsch, 1906

Prokop, Jakub & Nel, André, 2007, An enigmatic Palaeozoic stem-group: Paoliida, designation of new taxa from the Upper Carboniferous of the Czech Republic (Insecta: Paoliidae, Katerinkidae fam. n.), African Invertebrates 48 (1), pp. 77-86 : 82

Family? Paoliidae Handlirsch, 1906

Genus undetermined

Figs 4, 5

Description: Distal two-thirds of wing uniformly dark, with clearly visible reticulate venation (so-called ‘archaedictyon’) and rather thick membrane, rather narrow elongate; fragment 31.1 mm long, estimated wing length about 50 mm, maximum width based on fragment 14.5 mm; only apex of concave vein ScP preserved, ending in convex RA, 26.1 mm from wing apex; several veinlets between RA(+ScP) and costal margin; simple RA reaching wing margin 5.5 mm above apex; numerous sigmoidal cross-veins between RA and RP; concave RP divided into two main branches 30 mm from wing apex, anterior branch subdivided into four branches and posterior one into three branches; no convex vein MA; concave vein interpreted as MP divided into two main branches, anterior one divided into three long branches and posterior one divided into two branches; apical parts of other veins CuA, CuP and probably anal veins visible.

Material examined: specimen B13190, part and counterpart of the apical part of a well preserved wing, v uniformly dark (originally Susta coll.). CZECH REPUBLIC: Upper Silesian Coal Basin, Frantisek v Mine in Horní Suchá, hanging wall seam D (second etage); Upper Carboniferous, Westphalian A (Langsettian), Upper Suchá Beds (Member), Karviná Formation.

Discussion: Because of the absence of the structures of the basal half of the wing, its determination is tentative. Nevertheless, it has the main structures of the distal half of some paoliid wings, viz. apical fusion of ScP with RA, and absence of convex MA between concave RP and MP. This fossil differs from the wing of Paoliola gurleyi ( Melander, 1903) only in the longer fusion of RA with ScP and longer distal branches of RP ( Kukalová 1958). Therefore, we provisionally place it close to the Paoliidae .

Figures

Figs 4, 5. Undetermined genus of presumed Paoliidae, photograph and line drawing of specimen B13190, collection of the Municipal Museum of Ostrava.