1975] 
Kukalova-Peck — Megasecoptera 
15 
Holotype: no. 32/1974 (wing fragment, length 18 mm, width 
4 mm; obverse). Paleontological Institute of Charles University, 
Prague. 
Family Alectoneuridae, new family 
Wings: very narrow in the proximal third but not petiolate, broad- 
est beyond mid-wing. Venation simplified ; Sc terminating before the 
apical third ; stems of R and M not coalesced in the basal third ; Rs 
diverging from R 1 before mid-wing; MA adjoining or coalescing 
with Rs for a short distance. iA with a series of long branches. 
Cross veins few. 
The venation of Alectoneuridae is very close to that of Mischop- 
teridae. However, the shape of the wing is less specialized in lacking 
the petiole, and the anal area has a more generalized venation. The 
basal part of the wing, including the convex basal bend of the sub- 
costa, is very reminiscent of the Protohymenidae (Kukalova-Peck, 
1974 ). 
The Alectoneuridae combines morphological features of two groups 
of families, which originated from common ancestors: Mischopteri- 
dae, Sphecopteridae, Carbonopteridae, Ischnoptilidae, Corydaloididae, 
Foririidae on one side; and Aspidothoracidae, Scytohymenidae, Aspi- 
dohymenidae, Vorkutiidae, Bardohymenidae, and Protohymenidae on 
the other side. The family Alectoneuridae probably descended from 
the ancestors of both groups and has a morphologically intermediate 
position similar to that of the Moravohymenidae (Kukalova-Peck 
1972, p. 256). 
Type genus: Alectoneura, new genus. 
Alectoneura, new genus 
Wing: C and Sc convexly bent before the base; subcostal area 
relatively broad in the proximal half of the wing, with a series of 
Sc branches; M dividing into MA and MP at the level of the origin 
of Rs ; anal area relatively broad and long, reaching beyond mid-wing. 
In its venation, Alectoneura recalls Psilothorax (Mischopteridae) ; 
and in the structure of the basal part of the wing, Protohymen (Pro- 
tohymenidae) . The broad subcostal area, with a series of numerous 
subcostal branches and the relatively large anal area with richly 
branched iA, are the characters typical for primitive Megasecoptera 
with generalized venation. 
The generic name is derived from the Greek words alecto and 
neura (indescribable + veins) and is considered neuter plural. 
Type species: Alectoneura europaea, n.sp. 
