Palaeoptera
| Palaeoptera Temporal range: Carboniferous - present
| |
|---|---|
| |
| The Ephemeroptera: Ephemeridae )
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Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Subclass: | Pterygota |
| Division: | Palaeoptera Martynov, 1923 |
| Superorders | |
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The name Palaeoptera (from Greek winged insects (most of them extinct) that lacked the ability to fold the wings back over the abdomen as characterizes the Neoptera. The Diaphanopterodea, which are palaeopteran insects, had independently and uniquely evolved a different wing-folding mechanism. Both mayflies and dragonflies lack any of the smell centers in their brain found in Neoptera.[2]
Disputed status
The complexities of the wing-folding mechanism, as well as the mechanical operation of the wings in flight (
monophyletic
lineage.
The problem is that the plesiomorphic absence of wing-folding does not necessarily mean the Palaeoptera form a natural group – they may simply be an assemblage containing all insects, closely related or not, that "are not Neoptera", an example of a wastebasket taxon
.
If the extinct lineages are taken into account, it seems likely that the concept of Palaeoptera will eventually be discarded or changed in content to more accurately reflect insect evolution.
In any case, three main palaeopteran lineages, traditionally treated as
superorders
, are recognized.
Of these, the basal Pterygota
, too.
As it stands, the relationship of the two living Paleopteran groups – paraphyletic.[3]
See also
Footnotes
- ^ Called Odonatoidea in some treatments, e.g. Trueman & Rowe (2008)
- ^ Akpan, Nsikan (21 March 2014). "Dragonflies Lack 'Smell Center,' but Can Still Smell". Science Magazine. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
- ^ Maddison (2002), Trueman [2008]
References
- Maddison, David R. (2002): Tree of Life Web Project – Pterygota. Winged insects. Version of 2002-JAN-01. Retrieved 2008-DEC-15.
- Trueman, John W.H. [2008]: Tree of Life Web Project – Pterygote Higher Relationships. Retrieved 2008-DEC-15.
- Trueman, John W.H. & Rowe, Richard J. (2008): Tree of Life Web Project – Odonata. Dragonflies and damselflies. Version of 2008-MAR-20. Retrieved 2008-DEC-15.