Prolucanus beipiaoensis gen. et sp. nov.: The First Fossil Species of Lucaninae (Coleoptera: Lucanidae) from the Early Cretaceous of Northeastern China

A new stag beetle fossil is described from the Yixian Formation in northeastern China. A new genus is established based on this well-preserved specimen. Prolucanus beipiaoensis gen. et sp. nov. is firmly placed in the extant lucanid subfamily Lucaninae based on its broad prosternal process and genic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inInsects (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 13; no. 3; p. 272
Main Authors Qi, Zhi-Hao, Tihelka, Erik, Cai, Chen-Yang, Song, Hai-Tian, Ai, Hong-Mu
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Switzerland MDPI AG 10.03.2022
MDPI
Subjects
Antennae
Beetles
Communication
Cretaceous
Endangered & extinct species
Etymology
Extinction
Females
fossil
Fossils
Lucanidae
Lucaninae
Males
Mesozoic
New genera
New species
Paleontology
Prolucanus
Sexual dimorphism
stag beetle
Yixian Formation
Liaoning China
Inner Mongolia China
China
Russia
Prolucanus
new species
China
Yixian Formation
Lucaninae
fossil
stag beetle
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Summary:A new stag beetle fossil is described from the Yixian Formation in northeastern China. A new genus is established based on this well-preserved specimen. Prolucanus beipiaoensis gen. et sp. nov. is firmly placed in the extant lucanid subfamily Lucaninae based on its broad prosternal process and geniculate antennae. Our discovery represents the first fossil record of Lucaninae from the Late Mesozoic of China and the oldest reliable record belonging to the subfamily. We also summarize the fossil species of stag beetles found in China and the described fossil species of the subfamily Lucaninae found in the world. A key to all fossil genera of Lucanidae from China is provided.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
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ISSN:2075-4450
2075-4450
DOI:10.3390/insects13030272