A cranefly rendezvous: The highest known Mesozoic diversity of Tipulidae (Insecta: Diptera) in the Lower Cretaceous Crato Formation of NE Brazil

Author(s)

Santos, Daubian ; Carvalho, Ismar de Souza ; Ribeiro, Guilherme Cunha

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: CRETACEOUS RESEARCH; v. 142, p. 22-pg., 2023-02-01.

Abstract

The genus Leptotarsus (Tipulomorpha: Tipulidae) is one of the oldest lineages of the family Tipulidae known from the Early Crataceous to the present. Most Leptotarsus fossils are from the Cretaceous period, and the Crato Formation of the Lower Cretaceous of NE Brazil is notable for bearing the greatest known Mesozoic diversity of the genus. This study describes twelve new species of the genus: Leptotarsus acciolii sp. nov., L. alemaoi sp. nov., L. bonifacioi sp. nov., L. capanemai sp. nov., L. coutoi sp. nov., L. feijoi sp. nov., L. ferreirai sp. nov., L. lagosi sp. nov., L. lemesi sp. nov., L. pereirai sp. nov., L. petrii sp. nov. and L. velosoi sp. nov. With the new taxa described herein, a total of 21 Leptotarsus species are now recorded from the Crato Formation. An updated identification key for all Cretaceous Leptotarsus species of the world is provided. (c) 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/16305-6 - Systematics, biogeography, and phylogenetic diversity of Tipulomorpha, with emphasis in the subfamily Chioneinae (Diptera: Limoniidae)
• Grantee: Daubian Santos
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 20/02844-5 - The paleoentomofauna of the Crato formation (Lower Cretaceous; Araripe Basin): systematics and paleoecology
• Grantee: Guilherme Cunha Ribeiro
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants