What is the oldest coleoptera

[Ken Kinman]

      The Cupedids are thought by many to be among the most primitive of the
living beetle families.
      However, the oldest and most primitive of all beetles would apparently
still be the Family Tshekardocoleidae from the Early Permian.  It is the
earliest and most primitive family of the paraphyletic stem group
"protocoleopterans".
                 ----- Ken
****************************************
>From: "Vr. Richard Bejsak-Colloredo-Mansfeld" <ricardo at ANS.COM.AU>
>To: TAXACOM at USOBI.ORG
>Subject: What is the oldest coleoptera
>Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 22:46:08 +1100
>
>dear colleagues,
>
>I would like to know how old  is oldest fossil of beetles and when
>coleoptera was first time  on the earth...
>
>I know that Cupedidae are very primitive group.. but is this the first
>beetles?
>
>Keep care and be of good cheer.
>



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