Taxonomic note on the species status of Epiophlebia diana (Insecta, Odonata, Epiophlebiidae), including remarks on biogeography and possible species distribution

By

Büsse, Sebastian
Ware, Jessica

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2022

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

1127

Pages

79--90

Subjects

Anisozygoptera , E. sinensis , E. superstes , Epiophlebia laidlawi , genetic sequences , relict dragonfly , synonymy

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1127.83240

 

Abstract

The species included in the genusEpiophlebiaCalvert, 1903 represent an exception within Recent lineages – they do not belong to either dragonflies (Anisoptera) nor damselflies (Zygoptera). Nowadays, the genus is solely known from the Asian continent. Due to their stenoecious lifestyle, representatives ofEpiophlebiaare found in often very small relict populations in Nepal, Bhutan, India, Vietnam, China, North Korea, and Japan. We here present a taxonomic re-evaluation on the species status ofEpiophlebia dianaCarle, 2012, known from the Sichuan province in China, supplemented with a morphological character mapping on a genetic tree to highlight synapomorphies ofE. dianaandE. laidlawiTillyard, 1921. We conclude thatE. dianais a junior synonym ofE. laidlawi. Furthermore, we discuss the Recent distribution of the group, allowing for predictions of new habitats of representatives of this group.