A new interpretation of dragonfly wing venation based upon Early Upper Carboniferous fossils from Argentina (Insecta: Odonatoidea) and basic character states in pterygote wings

Abstract

The oldest known odonatoid wings are described from the Namurian of Argentina: Eugeropteron lunatum Riek n.g. et sp. and Geropteron arcuatum Riek n.g. and sp. (Meganisoptera: Meganeurina: Eugeropteridae n. fam.). The wings are generalized and support a reinterpretation of the venation of living Odonata as being fully homologous to that of other pterygotes and closely related to Ephemeropteroidea, but different from Neoptera. Therefore, Paleoptera is a valid phylogenetic unit, and Odonatoidea and Ephemeropteroidea are sister groups.