Non-African representatives of the plesiomorphion Protopatellata (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae)

Abstract

terized by retaining the same primitive position of patella-tibial suture, which occurs in most Ephemeroptera: in all stages of both sexes this suture is developed on middle and hind legs, but absent on fore legs; in selected taxa patella-tibial suture is reduced on all legs, but it never appears on fore legs. The taxon Anteropatellata is characterized by an autapomorphy: patella-tibial suture is restored on fore legs, which become similar to middle and hind legs; only in male subimago and imago fore legs lack patella-tibial suture (see Table ).