Morphological and phylogenetic analysis resolves relationships within Pereborioidea from Late Permian insect fossils, highlighting early predator mimicry defense strategies.
A new species, Sinocurvicubitus haotianus Xu, Shih, Ren & Wang, sp. nov. (Curvicubitidae), is described from the Upper Permian Leping Formation in Jiangxi Province, South China. This constitutes the second definitive occurrence of Curvicubitidae in the Late Permian. Through comparative wing morphology and cladistic analyses, we resolved phylogenetic relationships within the superfamily as ((Ignotalidae + Pereboriidae*) + Curvicubitidae) and validated the exclusion of Scytophara extensa from Pereboriidae. Additionally, we estimated divergence times across Pereborioidea lineages, reconstructed ancestral distribution ranges, and elucidated the origin centers and dispersal routes for Curvicubitidae. Wing eyespots and bands suggested predator mimicry, a novel defense strategy in Permian insects.
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Xu et al. (2025) studied this question.
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