The first Mesozoic record of Ochthephilus (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Oxytelinae) from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber

Abstract Mesozoic oxyteline rove beetles from amber are poorly known. Here we describe and illustrate the first fossil belonging to the extant oxyteline genus Ochthephilus Mulsant & Rey 1856, Ochthephilus wui sp. nov. , based on a single specimen from mid-Cretaceous amber from northern Myanmar. The species is placed in Ochthephilus based on a combination of morphological characteristics: densely pubescent body, eyes not extending onto ventral portion of head, prominent temples, subulate maxillary palpomere 4 at base enlarged as broad as apex of 3, open procoxal fissure, distinct epipleural ridge, spineless tibia, and 5-segmented tarsi with closely associated basal three tarsomeres and with lobes on tarsomere 4. The discovery of O. wui in Burmese amber suggests that Ochthephilus is probably an ancient group.