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Issue: Vol. 9 No. 2: 29 Apr. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-04-29
DOI: 10.11646/palaeoentomology.9.2.6
Page range: 139-147
Abstract views: 51
PDF downloaded: 7

A new remarkable froghopper from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber (Hemiptera, Cicadomorpha, Sinoalidae)

Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Linyi University, Shuangling Road, Linyi 276000, China
Beijing Xiachong Amber Museum, 9 Shuanghe Middle Road, Beijing 100023, China
Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Linyi University, Shuangling Road, Linyi 276000, China
Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Linyi University, Shuangling Road, Linyi 276000, China
College of Life Sciences, Linyi University, Shuangling Road, Linyi 276000, China
Experimental Management Center, Linyi University, Shuangling Road, Linyi 276000, China
Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Linyi University, Shuangling Road, Linyi 276000, China
Hemiptera Cicadomorpha Sinoalidae new taxon Mesozoic Kachin amber biodiversity

Abstract

Sinoalidae is an extinct froghopper family with high palaeo-biodiversity documented in the Mesozoic. Up to now, two subfamilies along with four tribes (Fangyuaniini and Sinoalini in Sinoalinae, Wangalini and Juroalini in Juroalinae, respectively) have been attributed into this family. A new genus and species, Shuixiuia yuchenae gen. et sp. nov., is herein described from the mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber. This new taxon bears some typic traits of Fangyuaniini (Sinoalinae), but also displays remarkably unique morphological characteristics not recorded in other sinoalids, such as the habitus with the body very elevated near wing apex and much higher than other parts, tegmina gradually widened from the wing base to sub-apex, clavus and postcostal cell very narrow, and the stigmal cell and cell C5 broad and somewhat quadrangular. Our new find further reveals the diversity of the Sinoalidae in the Kachin amber biota and also suggests the high level of morphological disparity of extinct froghoppers in the mid-Cretaceous.

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