Revision of the Mesozoic family Aeschnidiidae (Odonata: Anisoptera)

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In this present volume Aeschnidiidae are described and species are revised. Also several new Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous genera and species are described. Data on adult and larval aeschnidiid morphology are discussed, several new larval, venational and adult body characters are described. An analysis of the inner phylogeny of the Aeschnidiidae is also performed, suggesting that a tendency towards a decrease of wing size occurred within this group, from very large Upper Jurassic forms to very small Lower Creatceous taxa. The possible causes of extinction of this highly specialised Mesozoic group of Odonata are discussed: bird predation versus important changes in the freshwater ecosystem which occurred during the Cenomanian.