NEW NAME FOR A TRIASSIC MAYFLY FROM 
SOUTH AFRICA (EPHEMEROPTERA)* 
By Michael D. Hubbard 1 and E. F. Riek 2 
In a recent paper Riek (1976) described a new species of fossil 
Ephemeroptera from the Triassic of South Africa as Xenophlebia 
optata. This mayfly, of which only the wing is known, is suffi- 
ciently distinct from other known mayflies to be referrable to a 
separate superfamily (Xenophlebioidea) without recognizable close 
phyletic relationship to any other known Ephemeroptera. 
Unfortunately, through a chain of circumstances, the fact that 
Demoulin (1968) had already used the generic name Xenophlebia 
for a genus of fossil Leptophlebiidae (Ephemeroptera) from the 
Baltic amber was not taken into consideration. Thus Xenophlebia 
Riek, 1976, must fall as a junior homonym of Xenophlebia De- 
moulin, 1968, and be replaced by a new name. The International 
Code of Zoological Nomenclature also requires that family-group 
names based on a genus name that is a junior homonym be 
replaced as invalid. We therefore propose the following new 
names. 
Superfamily Litophlebioidea: new name for Xenophlebioidea 
Riek, 1976:149. 
Family Litophlebiidae: new name for Xenophlebiidae Riek, 
1976:150. 
Genus Litophlebia: new name for Xenophlebia Riek, 1976: 
150. 
Entymology: Gr., Lit os, meaning frugal, and Phlebos, mean- 
ing vein, in reference to the marked reduction in the 
cubito-anal field of the wing. 
Type species: Xenophlebia optata Riek, 1976, by objective 
synonymy. 
Species included: Litophlebia optata (Riek, 1976) new com- 
bination. 
•Laboratory of Aquatic Entomology, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, 
Florida 32307, USA. 
2 19 Duffy St., Ainslie, Canberra, ACT 2602, Australia. 
* Manuscript received by the editor January 26, 1978. 
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