Palaeophylolestes distinctus n. gen., n. sp., a new malachite damselfly (Odonata: Zygoptera: Synlestidae) from the Paleocene Menat locality (France)

A new malachite damselfly, Palaeophylolestes distinctus n. gen., n. sp., is described from the Paleocene Menat locality. It can be distinguished from other Synlestidae owing to the very long wing veins MA, MP and CuA, and a unique combination of other wing venation features. The occurrence of a Synlestidae in the western Palaearctic area (while extant species occur in Australia, the Oriental region, South-East Asia, South Africa and Hispaniola) is not unexpected given the known fossil record of these insects and climatic conditions prevailing at Menat during the Paleocene.