Australasian/Oceanian Diptera Catalog -- Web Version

 Appendix II. Fossil Diptera of Australasia and Oceania

By Neal L. Evenhuis

The record of fossil Diptera in these regions is poor. All known fossils are from Australia and New Zealand. In contrast to the known Diptera fossils (excluding amber inclusions) of the north­ern temperate regions, which are primarily from the Oligocene, the record of fossils of the true Dip­tera from the Australian fauna dates as far back as the Triassic (Kovalev 1983), and the Protodiptera (which mayor may not be true Diptera) originate even earlier (from the Permian).

The majority of fossil taxonomy of these regions has been done by E.F. Riek. However, more recent studies by Jell & Duncan (1986) have added considerably to our knowledge of Australian fossil Diptera.

There has been no attempt here to review the taxonomic status of the names recorded below. Although members of the Protodiptera possess four wings, the genera are listed here because of their presumed link with the Diptera. Robinjohnia tillyardi Martynova, a former member of the Protodiptera, has been referred to the Nannochoristidae of the Mecoptera (Riek 1968). In addition to the fossil taxa listed below, fossils of unnamed taxa of Chironomidae, Culicidae, Dixidae, Simuliidae, and a possible muscoid are known from the Australian Tertiary. The format here follows that in the main catalog text with the addition of the geological horizon in parentheses after the type locality.

ORDER PROTODIPTERA

Family PERMOTANYDERIDAE

PERMOTANYDERUS Riek, 1953: 75. Type species: Permotanyderus ableptus Riek, 1953, orig. des.
ableptus Riek, 1953: 75. Australia (NSW) (Permian).

CHORISTOTANYDERUS Riek, 1953: 76. Type species: Choristotanyderus nanus Riek, 1953, orig. des.
nanus Riek, 1953: 76. Australia (NSW) (Permian).

Family PERMOTIPULIDAE

Genus PERMOTIPULA Tillyard

PERMOTIPULA Tillyard, 1929: 778. Type species: Permotipula patricia Tillyard, 1929, mono. patricia Tillyard, 1929: 779. Australia (NSW) (Permian).

ORDER DIPTERA
Suborder NEMATOCERA

Family TIPULIDAE

Genus PROTOLIMNOPHlLA Riek

PROTOLIMNOPHlLA Riek, 1954b: 58. Type species: Protolimnophila superba Riek, 1954, orig. des. superba Riek, 1954b: 58. Australia (Qld) (Tertiary).

Family DITOMYIIDAE

Genus AUSTRALOSYMMERUS Freeman

CENTROCNEMIS Philippi, 1865: 619. Type species: Centrocnemis stigmatica Philippi, 1865, mon. [Preocc. Signoret, 1852.]
AUSTRALOMYIA Freeman, 1951b: 7 (n. n. for Centrocnemis). [Preocc. Schmid, 1950.]
AUSTRALOSYMMERUS Freeman, 1954b: 39 (n. n. for Australomyia).
imperfectus Riek, 1954b: 59 (Centrocnemis). Australia (Qld) (Tertiary).

Family PROTORHYPHIDAE

Genus AUSTRORHYPHUS Martin

AUSTRORHYPHUS Martin, 2008: 254. Type species: Austrorhyphus moryi Martin, 2008, orig. des.
moryi Martin, 2008: 255. Australia (WA) (Jurassic).

Family MYCETOPHILIDAE

Subfamily SCIOPHILINAE

Genus ANEURA Marshall

ANEURA Marshall, 1896b: 287. Type species: Aneura boletinoides Marshall, 1896, mon.
apicalis Rick, 1954b: 60. Australia (Qld) (Tertiary).

Genus PROTOTASMANINA Riek

PROTOTASMANINA Riek, 1954b: 60. Type species: Prototasmanina nana Riek, 1954, orig. des.
nana Riek, 1954b: 60. Australia (Qld) (Tertiary).

Subfamily MYCETOPHILINAE

Genus PSEUDALYSIINIA Tonnoir

PSEUDALYSIINIA Tonnoir, 1929b: 608. Type species: Pseudalysiinia mimicans Tonnoir, 1929, orig. des.
fragmenta Jell & Duncan, 1986: 179. Australia (Vic) (Lower Cretaceous).

Family CROSAPHIDIDAE

Genus CROSAPHIS Evans

CROSAPHIS Evans, 1971: 146. Type species: Crosaphis anomala Evans, 1971, orig. des.
anomala Evans, 1971: 147. Australia (Qld) (Triassic).

Family BIBIONIDAE