Shenzhousia qilianshanensis gen. et sp. nov. (Protodonata, Meganeuridae), a giant dragonfly from the Upper Carboniferous of China

A new dragonfly of family Meganeuridae Shenzhousia qilianshanensis gen. et sp. nov., discovered from Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in North China, is described in the present paper. It has an estimated wingspan of about 450?500 mm and may be the largest fossil insect in Late Carboniferous Namurian Stage discovered by far. The new species is referred to Meganeuridae because of the presence of the characteristic oblique vein between anterior branch of radius (RA) and posterior branch of radius (RP) near the base of RP2. It differs from other genera within the family in the following characteristics: Precostal area short and not extending to the midwing; posterior branch of subcostal vein short, merging into costal vein near the level of originating point of IR₂; RP forking earlier than anterior branch of media basally; RP_1＋2 and RP_3＋4 parallel and close to each other for a long distance, and then diverge gradually surpass midwing.     

Shenzhousia qilianshanensis gen. et sp. nov. (Protodonata, Meganeuridae), a giant dragonfly from the Upper Carboniferous of China

A new dragonfly of family Meganeuridae Shenzhousia qilianshanensis gen. et sp. nov., discovered from Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in North China, is described in the present paper. It has an estimated wingspan of about 450-500mm and may be the largest fossil insect in Late Carboniferous Namurian Stage discovered by far. The new species is referred to Meganeuridae because of the presence of the characteristic oblique vein between anterior branch of radius (RA) and posterior branch of radius (RP) near the base of RP2. It differs from other genera within the family in the following characteristics: Precostal area short and not extending to the midwing; posterior branch of subcostal vein short, merging into costal vein near the level of originating point of IR2; RP forking earlier than anterior branch of media basally; RP1+2 and RP3+4 parallel and close to each other for a long distance, and then diverge gradually surpass midwing.     

Shenzhousia qilianshanensis gen. et sp. nov. (Protodonata, Meganeuridae), a giant dragonfly from the Upper Carboniferous of China

A new dragonfly of family Meganeuridae Shenzhousia qilianshanensis gen. et sp. nov., discovered from Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in North China, is described in the present paper. It has an estimated wingspan of about 450?500 mm and may be the largest fossil insect in Late Carboniferous Namurian Stage discovered by far. The new species is referred to Meganeuridae because of the presence of the characteristic oblique vein between anterior branch of radius (RA) and posterior branch of radius (RP) near the base of RP2. It differs from other genera within the family in the following characteristics: Precostal area short and not extending to the midwing; posterior branch of subcostal vein short, merging into costal vein near the level of originating point of IR₂; RP forking earlier than anterior branch of media basally; RP_1＋2 and RP_3＋4 parallel and close to each other for a long distance, and then diverge gradually surpass midwing.