Naginipteryx, Schall & Heads & Husemann, 2025

Genus Naginipteryx gen. nov.

Type species.

Naginipteryx pinna sp. nov.

Etymology.

Named after the naga (female nagini), a mythological creature from Asian religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism. It is also found in the mythology of Myanmar. Nagas are usually portrayed as half-human, half serpent beings, but can also be found as dragons. This is why the name has been chosen, for the triangularly shaped mesotibia of the genus, reminding of a classical dragons’ tail.

Diagnosis.

Protibia with four dactyls. Fore- and hindwings present, hindwings just as long as abdomen. Apical metatibial spurs slightly longer than subapical. Ventral margin of apical spurs with four distinct long hairs. External genitalia very similar to Yakkhapipteryx Schall, Cao & Husemann, 2025 more specifically Y. gracilis ( Gu, Zheng, Cao & Yue, 2022) (this includes morphology of the cerci, paraproctal lobes and ovipositor valves): cercus one-segmented, cylindrical and setulose with long hairs. Paraproctal lobes two-segmented and longer than cerci, apically swollen and clavate with distinct long hair. Ovipositor visible, approximately as long as cerci, valve rather thick (more similar to Y. gracilis than Y. mira ( Gu, Zheng, Cao & Yue, 2022)) . Differs from Yakkhapipteryx by 1) the mesotibia being distinctly inflated and triangular in shape. 2) Ventral appendages with an inserted hair on the abdomen. 3) A blunt (rather than pointed) metatarsus with one row of serration and one row with hairs (rather than no row).