PSYCHE 
Vol. 82 March, 1975 No. 1 
MEGASECOPTERA FROM THE LOWER PERMIAN 
OF MORAVIA* 
By Jarmila Kukalova-Peck 
Department of Geology, Carleton University 
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada 
The Megasecoptera are separated from the closely related Paleozoic 
Order Palaeodictyoptera by having nearly homonomous, elongate, 
petiolate (or basally narrowed) wings; usually a simple venation; 
and Sc and R crowded towards the costal margin. The body struc- 
tures in both orders are virtually identical, so far as known. The 
relationship of these groups gives the impression of being like that 
between dragonflies and damselflies within the Order Odonata, 
rather than that between two different orders (Kukalova-Peck, 
1973). Only recently has the wing attachment to the body in both 
groups been studied (Kukalova-Peck, 1974), revealing evidence 
which justifies the recognition of Megasecoptera as a distinct order. 
The Palaeodictyoptera have been found to retain many features of 
the primitive paleopterous wing base, such as the fully developed 
subcostoanal axillary plate. In the Megasecoptera, however, the sub- 
costoanal axillary plate is missing and the axillary sclerites are highly 
specialized and largely fused. The morphology of the axillary region 
in Megasecoptera is unique within the Paleoptera and shows once 
again the potential for extraordinary diversity in the paleopterous 
orders. 
The Lower Permian locality of Obora in Moravia (Czechoslo- 
vakia) has recently yielded twelve specimens of Megasecoptera, re- 
ferred here to six new families: Caulopteridae, Hanidae, Arcioneuri- 
*This study has been supported in part by grant no. GB 39790 from the 
National Science Foundation (F. M. Carpenter, Principal Investigator, 
Harvard University) and in part by a publication grant of Carleton Uni- 
versity, Ottawa, Canada. I am deeply indebted to Dr. Frank M. Carpenter 
for critical review of the manuscript and for his manifold support of my 
work. 
Manuscript received, by the editor April 26, 1975 
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