A unique, large-sized stem Odonata (Insecta) found in the early Pennsylvanian of New Brunswick (Canada)
O. Béthoux,
R. E. Norrad,
M. R. Stimson,
M. R. Stimson,
O. A. King,
O. A. King,
L. F. Allen,
I. Deregnaucourt,
S. J. Hinds,
J. H. Lewis,
J. H. Lewis,
J. W. Schneider,
J. W. Schneider
Affiliations
O. Béthoux
CR2P (Centre de Recherche en Paléontologie – Paris), MNHN – CNRS
– Sorbonne Université, 57 rue Cuvier, CP38, 75005, Paris, France
R. E. Norrad
Citadel High School, 1855 Trollope St., Halifax, Nova Scotia,
B3H 0A4, Canada
M. R. Stimson
Steinhammer Paleontological Laboratories, Geology/Paleontology
section, Natural History Department, New Brunswick Museum, 277 Douglas Ave,
Saint John New Brunswick, E2K 1E5, Canada
M. R. Stimson
Department of Geology, Saint Mary's University, 923 Robie St., Halifax, Nova Scotia,
B3H 3C3, Canada
O. A. King
Steinhammer Paleontological Laboratories, Geology/Paleontology
section, Natural History Department, New Brunswick Museum, 277 Douglas Ave,
Saint John New Brunswick, E2K 1E5, Canada
O. A. King
Department of Geology, Saint Mary's University, 923 Robie St., Halifax, Nova Scotia,
B3H 3C3, Canada
L. F. Allen
Citadel High School, 1855 Trollope St., Halifax, Nova Scotia,
B3H 0A4, Canada
I. Deregnaucourt
CR2P (Centre de Recherche en Paléontologie – Paris), MNHN – CNRS
– Sorbonne Université, 57 rue Cuvier, CP38, 75005, Paris, France
S. J. Hinds
Geological Surveys Branch – New Brunswick Department of Natural
Resources and Energy Development, 135 Regent St., Fredericton, New
Brunswick, E3C 2G6, Canada
J. H. Lewis
Steinhammer Paleontological Laboratories, Geology/Paleontology
section, Natural History Department, New Brunswick Museum, 277 Douglas Ave,
Saint John New Brunswick, E2K 1E5, Canada
J. H. Lewis
Canadian Museum of Nature, 1740 Pink Road, Gatineau, Quebec,
J9J 3N7, Canada
J. W. Schneider
TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Institut für Geologie,
Bernhard-von-Cotta-Straße 2, 09596, Freiberg, Germany
J. W. Schneider
Kazan Federal University, Institute of Geology and Petroleum
Technologies, Kremlyovskaya 18, 420008, Kazan, Russia
A stem relative of dragon- and damselflies, Brunellopteron norradi Béthoux, Deregnaucourt and Norrad gen. et sp. nov., is documented based on a specimen found at Robertson Point (Grand Lake, New Brunswick, Canada; Sunbury Creek Formation; early Moscovian, Pennsylvanian) and preserving the basal half of a hindwing. A comparative analysis of the evolution of wing venation in early odonates demonstrates that it belongs to a still poorly documented subset of species. Specifically, it displays a MP + CuA fusion, a CuA + CuP fusion, and a CuP + AA fusion, but it lacks the “extended” MP + Cu / CuA fusion and the “extended” (CuP / CuA + CuP) + AA fusion, the occurrence of which is typical of most Odonata, including Meganeura-like species. The occurrence of intercalary veins suggests that its closest relative might be Gallotypus oudardi Nel, Garrouste and Roques, 2008, from the Moscovian of northern France.
