New, primitive termites (Isoptera) from Early Cretaceous ambers of France and Lebanon - INSU - Institut national des sciences de l'Univers Access content directly
Journal Articles Palaeodiversity Year : 2011

New, primitive termites (Isoptera) from Early Cretaceous ambers of France and Lebanon

Michael S. Engel
  • Function : Author
André Nel
Dany Azar
  • Function : Author
Paul Tafforeau
Didier Neraudeau
  • Function : Author
  • PersonId : 840690
Vincent Perrichot
  • Function : Author
  • PersonId : 903635

Abstract

Three new genera and species of primitive termites (Isoptera) are described and fi gured from Early Cretaceous French and Lebanese ambers: Santonitermes chloeae ENGEL, NEL & PERRICHOT, n. gen., n. sp., from an imago preserved in Charentese amber (Albian­Cenomanian); Syagriotermes salomeae ENGEL, NEL & PERRICHOT, n. gen., n. sp., from an alate detected in opaque amber from the same locality and reconstructed using synchrotron microtomographic imaging; and Lebanotermes veltzae ENGEL, AZAR & NEL, n. gen., n. sp., from an alate preserved in Lebanese amber (Aptian). The three genera exhibit primitive features of the Meiatermes-grade of early isopteran genera (sensu ENGEL et al. 2009). In addition, three further fragmentary specimens from Lebanon amber are reported, each apparently distinct from Lebanotermes n. gen. and the previously described Melqartitermes ENGEL et al., 2007. The new fossils further document the diversity and morphological disparity of 'lower' termite groups during the Early Cretaceous, highlighting the importance of palaeontological material for understanding isopteran phylogeny as well as the diversifi cation of Isoptera in the latest Jurassic and Early Cretaceous.

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Paleontology
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Dates and versions

insu-00662059 , version 1 (23-01-2012)

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  • HAL Id : insu-00662059 , version 1

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Michael S. Engel, André Nel, Dany Azar, Carmen Soriano, Paul Tafforeau, et al.. New, primitive termites (Isoptera) from Early Cretaceous ambers of France and Lebanon. Palaeodiversity, 2011, 4, pp.39-49. ⟨insu-00662059⟩
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