A new primitive termite (Isoptera) from the Crato Formation, Araripe Basin, Early Cretaceous of South America

Abstract

Meiatermes cretacicus n. sp., an alate termite from the Early Cretaceous Crato Formation, Araripe Basin, northeastern Brazil. The new taxon is similar in many characteristics to other termites from the Araripe Basin, and primitive termites from Spanish amber. The rounded head and pronotum, Y-shaped line, veins Sc, R, Rs and M more heavily sclerotized than CuA, multiple Rs branches, and CuA well-developed are features shared with the basal-most termites belonging to the Meiatermes-grade. The Mesozoic record of the Araripe Basin includes six species of termites. Therefore, each discovery of a fossil termite is of high interest, giving new insight into their early evolutionary history and diversity during the Cretaceous of the South America.