Revision of the lagoon crickets (Elcanidae: Insecta: Orthoptera) of the Lower Cretaceous Crato Formation of Brazil with the description of new taxa

Elcanidae is a Mesozoic family of Orthoptera with many species known from Laurasia, but only very few from Gondwana. Here, a total of 88 specimens of Elcanidae from the Lower Cretaceous Crato Formation of Brazil were examined. Three new genera and species are described: Argentoelcana intermedia gen. et sp. nov.; Ensiferelcana brachyptera gen. et sp. nov.; Gondwanelcana brasiliensis gen. et sp. nov. In addition, the new genus Mesembrelcana gen. nov. is described to accommodate Cratoelcana rasnitsini Nel and Jouault, 2022, resulting in the new combination Mesembrelcana rasnitsini (Nel and Jouault, 2022) comb. nov. Finally, Cratoelcana damianii Martins-Neto, 1991 is transferred to Panorpidium Westwood, 1854, resulting in the new combination Panorpidium damianii (Martins-Neto, 1991) comb. nov., thus rendering Cratoelcana Martins-Neto, 1991 monotypic, containing only the type species Cratoelcana zessini Martins-Neto, 1991. Trait variability across the species based on the 88 specimens is presented and possible conclusions for the taxonomy of the family are discussed. Reasons explaining the high abundance of females among the specimens (69.3%) may include 1) a female-biased population of Elcanidae with the possible presence of parthenogenesis. 2) A stronger association of females with an aquatic habitat, for example for egg laying (thus leading to females being more likely to be preserved). The common name lagoon crickets is proposed for the family Elcanidae due to their frequent connection to bodies of water. The present work is the most comprehensive study about the Elcanidae of the Crato Formation since the contributions of Martins-Neto over 30 years ago. • New Elcanidae taxa from Crato Formation. • Character variation in Elcanidae. • Female-biased populations in Elcanidae.