The wing venation of a new fossil species, reconstructed using geometric morphometrics, adds to the rare fossil record of Triassic Gondwanian Odonata

Probably the most common rock-imprint fossil-insect remain is an incomplete isolated wing. This pitfall has been traditionally addressed by manually reconstructing missing parts, which not ideal to comprehend long-term evolutionary trends in group, particular for morphological diversity (i.e., disparity) approaches. Herein we describe a new Triassic relative of dragon- and damselflies (Odonata), Moltenophlebia lindae gen. et sp. nov., from Molteno Formation (Karoo Basin, South Africa), on basis three incomplete, wings. In order provide reconstruction complete wing venation species, formalized applied repeatable method aiming at inferring parts given specimen. It based homologous veins automatically identified thanks standardized color-coding. The dedicated script can be broadly fossil record insect species as member Zygophlebiida, within Triadophlebiomorpha. discovery, therefore, represents first ascertained occurrence latter group Gondwana, area where Odonata depauperate.