The first Archelcaninae (Orthoptera, Elcanidae) from the Cretaceous Jehol Biota of Liaoning, China

A new genus and species of Elcanidae (Orthoptera: Elcanoidea) is described from the Yixian Formation of northeastern China. Jeholelcana yanensis gen. et sp. nov., represents the first Archelcaninae to be formally described from the Mesozoic of China. The new genus with both forewing and hind tibiae well preserved differs from all other Archelcaninae in aspects of forewing venation and morphology of the metatibial spurs. The new specimen provides new information on the characteristics of the family Elcanidae. The new species, with both forewing and metaleg preserved, sheds light on the venation of elcanids with leaf-like metatibial spurs, previously known only from nymphs. The types of metatibial spurs of the family Elcanidae are discussed.