湘西Prodamesella punctata Ergaliev的个体发育头盖的研究和确凿尾部的发现对袁金良、尹恭正（2000）有关Prodamesella 属的次级划分和科级分类位置的最新论点提出疑问。湘西的材料表明，他们建立新的分类单元的材料中，头盖多属幼年个体而尾部似与Prodamesella无关。认为新亚属Prodamesella Chang（Metaprodamesella) Yuan et Yin和Prodamesella Chang（Neoprodamesella)Yuan et Yin不能成立。以往描记的P.subtriangulata Peng,P.(Prodamesella)cylindrica Yuan et Yin,P.(Metaprodamesella)subtriangulata prisca Yuan et Yin P.(Metaprodamesella)granulosa Yuan et Yin和Prodamesella(Neoprodamesella)spinosa Yuan et Yin5种（亚种）均系P.punctata的晚出异名。Prodamesella的特征表明，它既不归属于Damesellidae科也不属于Missisquoiidae科。它的科级位置目前尚不明了。

Yuan and Yin (2000) classified Prodamesella into 3 subgenera, and transferred the genus from family Damesellidae to family Missisquoiidae. Study on the material of ontogenetic series of Prodamesella punctata Ergaliev from western Hunan, with discovery of its reliable pygidia, reveals that the classification and the familial assignment made by them may be problematic. The new material shows that the cranidia, on which Yuan and Yin based for their new taxa are mainly of juvenile, and the pygidia appear to belong to other genera rather than Prodamesella. The subgenera Prodamesella (Metaprodamesella) Yuan et Yin and Prodamesella (Neoprodamesella) Yuan et Yin are considered to be invalid, and species (subspecies) P. subtriangulata Peng; P. (Prodamesella) cylindrica Yuan et Yin; P. (Metaprodamesella) subtriangulata prisca Yuan et Yin, P. (Metaprodamesella) granulosa Yuan et Yin;Prodamesella (Neoprodamesella) spinosa Yuan et Yin are junior synonyms of P. punctata. All the generic characters of Prodamesella suggest that the genus can be assigned neither to the family Damesellidae nor to Missisquoiidae. Because there appears no existing family, in which the genus could be satisfactorily placed, we prefer to remain it uncertain in familial rank.galiev from western Hunan, with discovery of its reliable pygidia, reveals that the classification and the familial assignment made by them may be problematic. The new material shows that the cranidia, on which Yuan and Yin based for their new taxa are mainly of juvenile, and the pygidia appear to belong to other genera rather than Prodamesella. The subgenera Prodamesella (Metaprodamesella) Yuan et Yin and Prodamesella (Neoprodamesella) Yuan et Yin are considered to be invalid, and species (subspecies) P. subtriangulata Peng; P. (Prodamesella) cylindrica Yuan et Yin; P. (Metaprodamesella) subtriangulata prisca Yuan et Yin, P. (Metaprodamesella) granulosa Yuan et Yin; Prodamesella (Neoprodamesella) spinosa Yuan et Yin are junior synonyms of P. punctata. All the generic characters of Prodamesella suggest that the genus can be assigned neither to the family Damesellidae nor to Missisquoiidae. Because there appears no existing family, in which the genus could be satisfactorily placed, we prefer to remain it uncertain in familial rank.

Q915.819.1

国家自然科学基金资助项目(Nos.40072003,40023002)和中国科学院现代古生物学和地层学开放研究实验室资助项目(003106)研究成果.