Bojophlebia

Bojophlebia
Temporal range:
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Subclass: Pterygota
Infraclass: Hydropalaeoptera
Family: Bojophlebiidae
Kukalová-Peck, 1985
Genus: Bojophlebia
Kukalová-Peck, 1985
Species:
B. prokopi
Binomial name
Bojophlebia prokopi
Kukalová-Peck, 1985

Bojophlebia is an extinct genus of winged insect from the Pennsylvanian period of the Czech Republic. It includes only a single species, Bojophlebia prokopi, and is the only member of the family Bojophlebiidae. Bojophlebia prokopi was first described in 1985 by Jarmila Kukalová-Peck, who originally described it as a large mayfly-like insect. This original interpretation has since been rejected. Most recently, B. prokopi has been treated as a member of the infraclass Hydropalaeoptera, which also includes the Odonatoptera (dragonflies, damselflies and extinct relatives) and Panephemeroptera (mayflies and extinct relatives). Bojophlebia is considered a sister group of all other members of the Hydropalaeoptera. A fossil that was described as a nymph of Bojophlebia is now considered to be a separate taxon, Carbotriplura kukalovae. The original description interpreted structures such as eyes and antennae, however these structures cannot be confirmed after restudy, although this may be an example of over-interpretation by Kukalová-Peck, as has happened with other extinct insects such as Carbotriplura and Gerarus.