The systematic position of the stonefly ?culongaSinitshenkova, 2011 (Plecoptera: Leuctrida) reassessedusing Reflectance Transforming Imaging and cladisticanalysis

摘要

The phylogenetic position of the insect species ?culonga Sinitshenkova, 2011, recovered from the Khasurty locality (Transbaikalia, Russia; Early Cretaceous), is re-investigated. This fossil needle stone?y has been considered an Exeleuctrida nec Mioleuctrida &Eleuctrida based on the organization of the hind wing venation opposite the arculus. We reconsidered this interpretation based on a directobservation, complemented by a Re?ectance Transforming Imaging fle. Our investigation indicates that the species displays the defningcharacter state of Eleuctrida while it lacks the defning character state of Mioleuctrida. Due to inconsistencies in the character state combination displayed by the species, we carried out a cladistics analysis. The species ?culonga is recovered as an Eleuctrida nec Mioleuctrida,and therefore represents a suitable calibration point for a node more recent than previously assumed, and incidentally demonstrates thatMioleuctrida belongs to Eleuctrida.