New family of fossil dragonfly (Odonata, Cavilabiata) from the late Cretaceous (Campanian) Dinosaur Park Formation, Alberta, Canada

Paleontologists have uncovered a new species of fossil dragonfly, Cordualadensa acorni, belonging to the newly described family Cordualadensidae. This discovery from Dinosaur Provincial Park (DPP) in Alberta, Canada, marks the oldest known North American fossil taxon within the group Cavilabiata and the only Mesozoic dragonfly ever recorded in Canada. The specimen provides critical evidence for the evolutionary transition of dragonflies from early Cretaceous ancestors to modern families, filling a significant gap in the fossil record. Additionally, its preservation in the Dinosaur Park Formation (DPF) suggests that insect diversity in this UNESCO World Heritage Site is far greater than previously recognized, supporting the hypothesis that Campanian Alberta's ecosystems were rich enough to sustain high trophic levels, including insect predators.

Mueller, A. S., Demers-Potvin, A. V., & Larsson, H. C. E. (2025). New family of fossil dragonfly (Odonata, Cavilabiata) from the late Cretaceous (Campanian) Dinosaur Park Formation, Alberta, Canada. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 62(8), 1373–1381. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjes-2024-0162