中国科学院南京地质古生物研究所机构知识库

Undoubted fossil nymphs of the family Aeschnidiidae within the Aeschnidioidea of the Anisoptera, Odonata are identified and described and their phylogenetic relationship and bioecological characteristics are deduced. The nymphs discovered previously in China, Mongolia and Russia and considered to be aeschnidiids are, in fact, unrelated to this group. All nine Chinese species in six genera can be merged into one alone, Aeschnidium heishankowense. It is the first animal from the 'Jehol biota' of East Asia to be linked with the species known from the Lower Tithonian of Germany. The geological age of the oldest strata bearing the fossil nymphs is debatable; it could be latest Jurassic father than Early Cretaceous. (C) 1999 Academic Press.