Shcherbakov D.E.*, Ponomarenko A.G. 2023. The first known fossil hygropetric beetle larva related to Myxophaga (Coleoptera) from the Permian of European Russia // Russian Entomol. J. Vol.32. No.3: 261–270 [in English].
Borissiak Paleontological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Profsoyuznaya St. 123, Moscow 117647, Russia. *E-mail: dshh@narod.ru
doi: 10.15298/rusentj.32.3.02
ABSTRACT. A unique disc-like beetle larva from the Middle Permian (Wordian, ~265 Ma) of Kargala near Orenburg, Cisuralia, Circularva reichardti gen. et sp.n., is tentatively assigned to ancestors of Torridincolidae (Myxophaga), extinct Phoroschizidae (= Schizophoridae). The filiform gills on its abdomen appear to be of the same type as the plastron-bearing spiracular gills in its living relatives. It is the first fossil hygropetric larva and the earliest fossil evidence of plastron respiration.
KEY WORDS: Schizophoromorpha, Torridincolidae, Megaloptera, spiracular gills, plastron respiration, aquatic insects, evolution, phylogeny, Mesozoic.