Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Type: Article
Published: 2024-06-29
Page range: 395-406
Abstract views: 56
PDF downloaded: 65

Cretacetrocta, a new genus of barklice from the Early Cretaceous Lebanese amber

Key State Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Petroleum Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
Mazraat Yachouh, El-Maten, Lebanon
Key State Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Petroleum Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China; Lebanese University, Faculty of Science II, Natural Sciences Department, Fanar – El-Matn, PO box 26110217, Lebanon
Psocodea Troctomorpha Mesozoic amber taxonomy

Abstract

Pachytroctidae is a diverse extant family of Troctomorpha, represented by few fossil taxa from the Cretaceous ambers of Myanmar and Lebanon, and a single species from the Eocene amber of France (Oise). Herein, we describe and illustrate a new monospecific genus Cretacetrocta libanella Hakim & Azar gen. et sp. nov. from the Lower Cretaceous Bqaatouta amber outcrop (Lebanon). The new taxon is tentatively assigned to Pachytroctidae, and the only hitherto record from Lebanese amber of the subfamily Tapinellinae. The new finding reveals potential unreliability of the character ‘nodulus’ as a key diagnostic characteristic of the family, at the very least among fossil representatives. On the other hand, sexual dimorphism, a common trait in modern species of the Pachytroctidae, remains unveiled among extinct taxa.

References

  1. Álvarez-Parra, S., Nel, A., Perrichot, V. & Jouault, C. (2024) Unravelling the mishmash: A new phylogeny for the family Empheriidae (Psocodea, Trogiomorpha) with a new genus and species from Cretaceous Charentese amber. Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny, 82, 183–199. https://doi.org/10.3897/asp.82.e114849
  2. Azar, D., Dejax, J. & Masure, E. (2011) Palynological analysis of amber-bearing clay from the Lower Cretaceous of Central Lebanon. Acta Geologica Sinica (English Edition), 85 (4), 942–949. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1755-6724.2011.00497.x
  3. Azar, D., Hakim, M., Huang, D.Y., Cai, C.Y. & Nel, A. (2017) New fossil booklice from the Cretaceous amber of Myanmar (Psocodea: Troctomorpha: Amphientometae: Manicapsocidae). Cretaceous Research, 70, 8–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cretres.2016.09.013
  4. Azar, D., Huang, D.Y., Cai, C.Y. & Nel, A. (2015) The earliest records of pachytroctid booklice from Lebanese and Burmese Cretaceous ambers (Psocodea, Troctomorpha, Nanopsocetae, Pachytroctidae). Cretaceous Research, 52, 336–347. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cretres.2014.04.005
  5. Azar, D., Gèze, R., El-Samrani, A., Maalouly, J. & Nel, A. (2010) Jurassic amber in Lebanon. Acta Geologica Sinica (English Edition), 84, 977–983. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1755-6724.2010.00228.x
  6. Azar, D. & Nel, A. (2011) The oldest psyllipsocid booklice, in Lower Cretaceous amber from Lebanon (Psocodea, Trogiomorpha, Psocathropetae, Psyllipsocidae). ZooKeys, 130, 153–165. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.130.1430
  7. Azar, D., Nel, A. & Néraudeau, D. (2009) A new Cretaceous psocodean family from the Charente-Maritime amber (France) (Insecta, Psocodea, Psocomorpha). Geodiversitas, 31 (1), 117–127. https://doi.org/10.5252/g2009n1a10
  8. Baz, A. & Ortuño, V.M. (2000) Archaeatropidae, a new family of Psocoptera from the Cretaceous amber of Alava, Northern Spain. Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 93 (3), 367–373. https://doi.org/10.1603/0013-8746(2000)093[0367:AANFOP]2.0.CO;2
  9. Cockerell, T.D.A. (1919) Insects in Burmese amber. The Entomologist, 52, No. 678, 241–243.
  10. Cumming, R.T. & Le Tirant, S. (2021) Review of the Cretaceous †Archaeatropidae and †Empheriidae and description of a new genus and species from Burmese amber (Psocoptera). Faunitaxys, 9 (16), 1–11.
  11. El Hajj, L., Baudin, F., Gèze, R., Cavin, L., Dejax, J., Garcia, G., Horne, D.J., Maksoud, S., Otero, O. & Azar, D. (2021a) Dysodiles from the lower Barremian of Lebanon: Insights on the fossil assemblages and the depositional environment reconstruction, Cretaceous Research, 120, 104732. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cretres.2020.104732
  12. El Hajj, L., Horne, D.J., Baudin, F., Gèze, R. & Azar, D. (2021b) The first non-marine ostracod fauna from the Lower Barremian dysodiles of Lebanon. Lethaia, 54 (1), 127–139. https://doi.org/10.1111/let.12393
  13. El Hossny, T. & Cavin, L. (2023) A new enigmatic teleost fish from the Mid-Cretaceous of Lebanon. Diversity, 15 (7), 839. https://doi.org/10.3390/d15070839
  14. Enderlein, G. (1903) Die Copeognathen des indo-australischen Faunengebietes. Annales Historico-Naturales Musei Nationalis Hungarici, 1, 179–344, pls. III–XIV.
  15. Enderlein, G. (1905) Morphologie, Systematik und Biologie der Atropiden und Troctiden, sowie Zusammenstellung aller bisher bekannten recenten und fossilen Formen. In: Jägerskiöld, L. (Ed.), Results of the Swedish Zoological Expedition to Egypt and the White Nile, 1901. The Library of the Royal University of Uppsala, Uppsala, 58 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.21727
  16. Enderlein, G. (1908) Die Copeognathenfauna der Insel Formosa. Zoologischer Anzeiger, 33, 759–779.
  17. Forey, P.L., Yi, L., Patterson, C. & Davies, C.E. (2003) Fossil fishes from the Cenomanian (Upper Cretaceous) of Namoura, Lebanon. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology, 1 (4), 227–330. https://doi.org/10.1017/S147720190300107X
  18. Fuchs, D., Bracchi, G. & Weis, R. (2009) New octopods (Cephalopoda: Coleoidea) from the Late Cretaceous (Upper Cenomanian) of Hâkel and Hâdjoula, Lebanon. Palaeontology, 52, 65–81. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-4983.2008.00828.x
  19. Granier, B., Toland, C., Gèze, R., Azar, D. & Maksoud, S. (2016) Some steps toward a new story for the Jurassic–Cretaceous transition in Mount Lebanon. Carnets de Géologie, 16 (8), 247–269. https://doi.org/10.4267/2042/59924
  20. Grimaldi, D. & Engel, M.S. (2006) Fossil Liposcelididae and the lice ages (Insecta: Psocodea). Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 273, 625–633. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2005.3337
  21. Hakim, M., Azar, S., Maksoud, S., Huang, D.Y. & Azar, D. (2018) New polymorphic psyllipsocids from Burmese amber (Psocodea: Psyllipsocidae). Cretaceous Research, 84, 389–400. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cretres.2017.11.027
  22. Hennig, W. (1966) Phylogenetic systematics. University of Illinois Press, Urbana, Illinois, III + 263 pp.
  23. Lienhard, C. (1998) Psocoptères euro-méditerranéen. Faune de France 83. Fédération Française des Sociétés de Sciences Naturelles, Paris, xx + 517 pp.
  24. Lienhard, C. (2005) Two new soil-dwelling psocids (Psocoptera: Trogiidae and Pachytroctidae) from the islands of St Helena and Madagascar. Revue Suisse de Zoologie, 112 (3), 689–701. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.part.80321
  25. Lienhard, C. & Smithers, C.N. (2002) Psocoptera (Insecta): World catalogue and bibliography. Instrumenta Biodiversitatis V, Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle de Genève, Geneva, xli + 745 pp.
  26. Maksoud, S. & Azar, D. (2020) Lebanese amber: Latest updates. Palaeoentomology, 3 (2), 125–155. https://doi.org/10.11646/palaeoentomology.3.2.2
  27. Maksoud, S. & Azar, D. (2023) Lebanese amber: A fantastic journey into the time of dinosaurs. Journal of Gems & Gemmology, 25 (4), 136–145. https://doi.org/10.15964/j.cnki.027jgg.2023.04.012
  28. Maksoud, S., Azar, D., Granier, B. & Gèze, R. (2017) New data on the age of the Lower Cretaceous amber outcrops of Lebanon. Palaeoworld, 26 (2), 331–338. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palwor.2016.03.003
  29. Maksoud, S., Granier, B.R.C. & Azar, D. (2022) Palaeoentomological (fossil insects) outcrops in Lebanon. Carnets de Géologie, 22 (16), 699–743. https://doi.org/10.2110/carnets.2022.2216
  30. Maksoud, S., Iskandar-Tabib, D. & Azar, D. (2024) Tannoura: A new early Barremian fossiliferous amber outcrop from South Lebanon. Mesozoic, 1 (1), 90–98. https://doi.org/10.11646/mesozoic.1.1.7
  31. Maksoud, S., Maalouf, M., Maalouf, R. & Azar, D. (2021) Baskinta and Bqaatouta: Two new early Barremian fossiliferous amber outcrops from Central Lebanon. Palaeoentomology, 4 (4), 367–373. https://doi.org/10.11646/palaeoentomology.4.4.12
  32. Mockford, E.L. (1993) North American Psocoptera (Insecta). Flora and Fauna Handbook 10. Sandhill Crane Press, Gainesville, Florida, xviii + 455 pp.
  33. Mockford, E.L., Lienhard, C. & Yoshizawa, K. (2013) Revised classification of ‘Psocoptera’ from Cretaceous amber, a reassessment of published information. Insecta Matsumurana, New Series, 69, 1–26.
  34. Moya, R.S. de, Yoshizawa, K., Walden, K.K.O., Sweet, A.D., Dietrich, C.H. & Johnson, K.P. (2021) Phylogenomics of parasitic and non-parasitic lice (Insecta: Psocodea): combining sequence data and exploring compositional bias solutions in next generation datasets. Systematic Biology, 70, 719–738. https://doi.org/10.1093/sysbio/syaa075
  35. Murell, A. & Baker, S.C. (2005) Multiple origins of parasitism in lice: phylogenetic analysis of SSU rDNA indicates that the Phthiraptera and Psocoptera are not monophyletic. Parasitology Research, 97, 274–280. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-005-1413-8
  36. Murray, A.M., Chida, M. & Holmes, R.B. (2022) New enchodontoid fish (Teleostei: Aulopiformes) from the Late Cretaceous of Lebanon. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 42 (1), e2101370. https://doi.org/10.1080/02724634.2022.2101370
  37. Nel, A., Prokop, J., De Ploëg, G. & Millet, J. (2005) New Psocoptera (Insecta) from the lowermost Eocene amber of Oise, France. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology, 3 (4), 371–391. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1477201905001598
  38. Nohra, Y., Azar, D., Gèze, R., Maksoud, S., El-Samrani, A. & Perrichot, V. (2013) New Jurassic outcrops from Lebanon. Terrestrial Arthropod Reviews, 6, 27–51. https://doi.org/10.1163/18749836-06021056
  39. Patterson, C. (1967) New Cretaceous berycoid fishes from the Lebanon. Bulletin of British Museum of Natural History, Geology, 14 (3), 67–109.
  40. Roesler, R. (1940) Neue und wenig bekannte Copeognathengat-tungen I. Zoologischer Anzeiger, 129, 225–243.
  41. Smithers, C.N. (1972) The classification and phylogeny of the Psocoptera. Memoirs of the Australian Museum, 14, 1–349. https://doi.org/10.3853/j.0067-1967.14.1972.424
  42. Smithers, C.N. (1990) Keys to the family and genera of Psocoptera (Arthropoda: Insecta). Technical reports of the Australian Museum, 2, 1–82. https://doi.org/10.3853/j.1031-8062.2.1990.77
  43. Yoshizawa, K. (2005) Morphology of Psocomorpha. Insecta Matsumurana, New Series, 62, 1–44.
  44. Yoshizawa, K. & Johnson, K.P. (2003) Phylogenetic position of Phthiraptera (Insecta: Paraneoptera) and elevated rate of evolution in mitochondrial 12S and 16S rDNA. Molecular Phylogenetics & Evolution, 29, 102–114. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1055-7903(03)00073-3
  45. Yoshizawa, K. & Johnson, K.P. (2010) How stable is the “Polyphyly of lice” hypothesis (Insecta: Psocodea)?: A comparison of phylogenetic signal in multiple genes. Molecular Phylogenetics & Evolution, 55, 939–951. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2010.02.026
  46. Yoshizawa, K. & Lienhard, C. (2010) In search of the sister group of the true lice: a systematic review of booklice and their relatives with an updated checklist of Liposcelididae (Insecta: Psocodea). Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny, 68, 181–195. https://doi.org/10.3897/asp.68.e31725
  47. Wang, R.Q., Li, S., Ren, D. & Yao, Y.Z. (2019) New genus and species of the Psyllipsocidae (Psocodea: Trogiomorpha) from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. Cretaceous Research, 104, 104178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cretres.2019.07.008