Eucnemidae

Oberprieler, Rolf G., Ashman, Lauren G., Frese, Michael & Ślipiński, Adam, 2016, The first elateroid beetles (Coleoptera: Polyphaga: Elateroidea) from the Upper Jurassic of Australia, Zootaxa 4147 (2), pp. 177-191 : 185

Eucnemidae ? Genus and species 1

( Fig. 14 )

Description. A small specimen comprising prothorax, scutellar shield, most of left elytron and parts of right elytron. Length 4.6 mm, width at base of pronotum 1.35 mm. Head apparently concealed beneath prothorax. Pronotum anteriorly subtruncate, anterolaterally roundly obtusely angled, sides arcuate; posterolateral angles apparently acute and shortly produced, without indication of a carina; basal margin apparently straight; surface irregular but probably smooth. Scutellar shield small, triangular. Elytra anteriorly broadly rounded, laterally gently curved, apices apparently blunt; dorsally flat but intervals apparently slightly raised; with 9 discernible striae of large, subquadrate punctures. Legs and abdomen not preserved.

Material examined (1 specimen). Part (AM F. 140888) consisting of cuticular remains of prothorax, scutellar shield and parts of left elytron and impression of mesal side of right elytron. Talbragar Fish Bed ( Upper Jurassic : Kimmeridgian-Tithonian, 151 ±4 Ma), Gulgong, N.S.W., Australia , December 2013, coll. R. G. Beattie. Deposited in the Australian Museum, Sydney.

Remarks. The specimen is of similar size as the holotype of Beattieellus jurassicus , but it differs in its anteriorly broader prothorax, shorter posterolateral angles and broader, less acutely pointed elytra and is most unlikely to represent the same species. Given its poor state of preservation, we do not formally describe and name it. The apparent absence of a carina on the posterolateral pronotal angles suggests that it may represent a eucnemid as well, but such placement cannot be ascertained from the single fragmented specimen.

Figures

FIGURES 13 – 16. Eucnemidae, clicking apparatus and Genus and species 1 & 2. 13, Nematodes sp., clicking apparatus showing anterior tubercles of mesoventral cavity (arrow); 14, Genus and species 1, part (AM F. 140888); 15, Genus and species 2, part (AM F. 137138); 16, Genus and species 2, counterpart (AM F. 137139). Scale bars 1 mm.