Extant Genus in the Mesozoic: Paleoplatyura Meunier (Diptera: Keroplatidae) Found in the Cretaceous Amber of Myanmar

Simple Summary Burmese amber is very rich in perfectly preserved insects. Consequently, it is an invaluable source of information for taxonomic and evolutionary studies. Moreover, it forms a unique connection between the Jurassic and Cretaceousfaunas and documents the first representatives of modern genera. In this paper, a primitive genus of Keroplatidae, Paleoplatyura Meunier, 1899, is recorded from Burmese amber for the first time. This represents a rather rare case of the presence of an extant insect genus in the Mesozoic. Three new species of Paleoplatyura are described, indicating that this genus was relatively diverse already in the Cretaceous. Three new species of Paleoplatyura Meunier, 1899, i.e., Paleoplatyura agnieszkae sp. nov., P. miae sp. nov., and P. magnifica sp. nov., are described and figured. The concept of the genus is briefly discussed, and its systematic position is clarified. A key to fossil species is provided. The genus Paleoplatyura is described from the Eocene Baltic amber. It is concluded that, in Baltic amber, this group is represented only by the type species, and the identity of the other two species is problematic. No additional specimens have been found so far in this amber. Therefore, the presence of as many as three new species in Burmese amber, certainly belonging to Paleoplatyura, is a confirmation of its occurrence already in the Mesozoic.

Automated summary

Burmese amber is an important source for the study of taxonomy and evolution due to its rich collection of perfectly preserved insects. In this paper, the presence of a primitive genus of Keroplatidae, Paleoplatyura, is reported in Burmese amber for the first time. Three new species of Paleoplatyura are described, suggesting that this genus was already diverse in the Cretaceous period. The study confirms the existence of Paleoplatyura in the Mesozoic.