An articulated dragonfly (Insecta, Odonata) from the Upper Liassic Posidonia Shale of northern Switzerland

An articulated dragonfly from the Lower Jurassic Posidonia Shale of norther n Switzerland is described. The specimen is assigned to Liassogomphus brodi ei (Buckman). This is the first description of an articulated member of the Family Liassogomphidae, hitherto known from isolated wings only. Almost id entical wings were previously described as Phthitogomphus angulatus (Handli rsch) and Palaeogomphus propinquus (Bode). The latter is now treated as syn onymous with Liassogomphus brodiei, and the genus Palaeogomhus Handlirsch i s therefore a junior synonym of Liassogomphus Cowley. The structures of the head, eyes, thorax, Legs, and first segments of the abdomen confirm the st ate of the Liassogomphidae within the Anisoptera (or Pananisoptera) and poi nt perhaps to a close relationship of the Liassogomphidae to the extant fam ily Aeshnidae. This has already been stated previously based on wing venati on patterns alone. The taphonomy of dragonflies in marine settings is brief ly addressed. Only a combination of several exceptional cir circumstances l ed to the Fossilization of this remarkable fossil.