A new Epiophlebia (Odonata: Epiophlebioidea) from China with a review of epiophlebian taxonomy, life history, and biogeography

Epiophlebia diana sp.n. is described from larval specimens collected in the mountains of western Sichuan Province, China. Epiophlebian taxonomy, life history, and biogeography are reviewed, and keys provided for determination of the knownadults and larvae of Epiophlebia Calvert, 1903. Classification of Epiophlebia is revised as follows: Epiophlebia s.str. with E. superstes (Selys, 1889) type species and E. sinensis Li & Nel, 2012; and Rheoepiophlebia subgen.n. with E. laidlawiTillyard, 1921 type species and E. diana sp.n.. Behavioral, ecological and paleontological information is also evaluated and members of Epiophlebia acknowledged to have inhabited small high elevation streams of the east Palaearctic for possibly180 million years. Likely reasons are proposed for the enduring survival of Epiophlebia, its lack of a fossil record and the extinction of related groups.