New species of Palaeontinidae (Insecta: Cicadomorpha) from the Lower Cretaceous Crato Formation of Brazil

Abstract

Two new Palaeontinidae (Insecta: Cicadomorpha), Baeocossus fortunatus n. sp. and Colossocossus bechlyi n. sp. are described from the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian/Albian) Nova Olinda Member of the Crato Formation, Northeast Brazil. The diagnoses of the genera Baeocossus MENON, HEADS & MARTILL, and Colossocossus MENON, HEADS & MARTILL are revised and their phylogenetic relationships summarized. Colossocossus bechlyi n. sp. appears to be the most basal member of the genus as it retains the plesiomorphic condition of a distally situated M-Cu fork in the forewing.