Short communicationThe first aeshnoid dragonfly (Odonata: Anisoptera: Telephlebiidae) from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber

A new true dragonfly, Cretaeshna lini gen. et sp. nov., is described based on a forewing from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. Cretaeshna is probably a member of Telephlebiidae: Telephlebiinae, but differs from the latter in having a weakly-defined IR1 and a short pterostigma. Cretaeshna lini is the first aeshnid dragonfly to be found as an amber inclusion and the third Cretaceous true dragonfly recorded in amber. Our find augments the diversity of Mesozoic true dragonflies, and enhances our understanding of the palaeogeographic distribution of aeshnid dragonflies.