Upper Carboniferous Insects from the Pottsville Formation of Northern Alabama (Insecta: Ephemeropterida, Palaeodictyopterida, Odonatoptera)

Abstract

New Upper Carboniferous (Pennsylvanian, Westphalian A) insects are described from localities in the Pottsville Formation of northern Alabama (including the Union Chapel Mine). Five species are recorded in five palaeopterous orders and comprising five genera (four new to Science). New taxa proposed are: Anniedarwinia alabamensis new genus and species (Ephemeropterida: Syntonopterodea: Syntonopteridae); Pharciphyzelus lacefieldi new genus and species (Palaeodictyopterida: Palaeodictyoptera: Homoiopteridae), Camptodiapha atkinsoni new genus and species (Palaeodictyopterida: Diaphanopterodea: Namurodiaphidae); Agaeoleptoptera uniotempla new genus and species (Palaeodictyopterida: Megasecoptera: Ancopteridae); and Oligotypus tuscaloosae new species (Odonatoptera: Protodonata: Paralogidae). Each taxon is described, figured, and compared with close relatives in Carboniferous and Permian deposits. Camptodiapha new genus extends the geographical range of the family Namurodiaphidae into the Carboniferous of North America. The diagnosis of the family Ancopteridae is expanded to accommodate Agaeoleptoptera new genus rather than propose another monogeneric family. The distribution of Ancopteridae is extended geographically into North America and temporally into the Upper Carboniferous. A key to the genera of ancopterids is provided.