| Coxoplectoptera | |
|---|---|
| |
| Mickoleitia longimanus, imago, holotype | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| (unranked): | Panephemeroptera |
| (unranked): | Ephemerida |
| (unranked): | Heptabranchia |
| Order: | †Coxoplectoptera Stanizcek et al., 2011 |
| Families | |
| |
Coxoplectoptera or "chimera wings" is an extinct order of stem-group mayflies containing one family, Mickoleitiidae. Together with mayflies (Ephemeroptera), Coxoplectoptera are assigned to the clade Heptabranchia.[1]
Two adult and more than 20 nymphal fossils of Mickoleitia have been scientifically described from Mesozoic outcrops, mainly from the Lower Cretaceous Crato Formation of Brazil (in total, around 40 fossil nymphs have been found). Both the winged adults and the aquatic nymphs were predators with raptorial forelegs, which are reminiscent to those of praying mantids. The nymphs had a peculiar freshwater shrimp-like habitus.
- ^ P. Sroka, A. H. Staniczek (2022). "Evolution of filter-feeding in aquatic insects dates back to the Middle Triassic: new evidence from stem-group mayflies (Insecta, Ephemerida) from Grès à Voltzia, Vosges, France". Papers in Palaeontology. 8 (4). doi:10.1002/spp2.1456.