Nymph and egg of Melanemerella brasiliana (Ephemeroptera: Ephemerelloidea: Melanemerellidae) with comments on its systematic position and the higger classification of Ephemerelloidea

MOLINERI, C. Y DOMÍNGUEZ, E.

JOURNAL OF THE NORTH AMERICAN BENTHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Año: 2003 vol. 22 p. 263 - 275

0887-3593

The genus Melanemerella has been of uncertain familial palcement since its description in 1920. It was first assigned to the family Ephemerellidae, later transferred to Tricorythidae, and finally to Leptophlebiidae. The uncertain familial placement was partly a result of its unique characters and inadequate description based on a single female imago. We describe for the first time nymphs and eggs of both sexes. As a result of a cladistic analysis done to elucidate the correct family assignement of Melanemerella, we demonstrate that the genus is not a Leptohyphidae, Coryphoridae or Tricorythidae. Melanemerella appear to be related to Teloganella (Teloganellidae) and Manohyphella (Teloganodidae), although the relationship is poorly supported. We propose the establishment of the family Melanemerillidae (new status) for this monobasic genus.