Fossil Representatives Research Articles

A revision and addition to Zopheridae (Coleoptera: Tenebrionoidea) in Baltic amber: possible connections between modern Holarctic distributions and Eocene ‘amber forests’

One new extinct genus and six new extinct species of Zopheridae are described and illustrated from Eocene Baltic amber: Usechus andrushchenkoi Alekseev et Bukejs sp. nov., Coxelus carstengroehni Alekseev et Bukejs sp. nov., Paha vanivanitatum Alekseev et Bukejs sp. nov., Lasconotus tenebrisilvarum Alekseev et Bukejs sp. nov., Helioctamenus groehni Alekseev et Bukejs sp. nov., and Thanatoplagia tamutisi Alekseev et Bukejs gen. et sp. nov. These described taxa include the first fossil representatives of five extant genera and two extant tribes of the family Zopheridae. The assumed paleoecology of these taxa within the amber-producing forest paleohabitat, as well as zoogeography of new fossils are discussed. In addition, new fossil records of Xylolaemus legalovi Alekseev et Bukejs, 2016, X. richardklebsi Alekseev et Bukejs, 2016, Endophloeus gorskii Alekseev et Bukejs, 2016, Yantaroxenos colydioides Nabozhenko, Kirejtshuk et Merkl, 2016, and Zopheromimus auriborussiensis Alekseev et Nabozhenko, 2023 from Baltic amber are presented. A catalogue of Zopheridae described from Baltic amber (currently 19 species within 16 genera) is compiled herein, and an identification key for all taxa is provided. The zoogeographical affinities of the Baltic amber zopherid assemblage are assessed. The present-day disjunct distributions of the zopherid genera that have survived since the Eocene and are currently present in the Holarctic region probably resulted from a uniform fauna in the warm temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere in the first half of the Paleogene. This uniform fauna was followed by independent reduction of distributions within four regions (West Palearctic, East Palearctic, West Nearctic, and East Nearctic). The ‘circum-Arctic quadrants’ schema is proposed for visualisation of this hypothesis. Additionally, a zonal middle to late Eocene ‘amberiferous ring’ is hypothesized as a probable migration pathway for several zopherids in this part of the Eocene. This ‘ring’ is a belt of amber-producing forests in the Northern Hemisphere, with the potential to preserve a wider distribution of taxa that relied on mixed conifer-fagacean forests similar to the Baltic amber forest flora and its faunal assemblage.

Apachyus madseni (Dermaptera: Apachyidae) sp. nov. from the Ypresian Fur Formation of Denmark: the first fossil record of the enigmatic earwig family Apachyidae

We describe Apachyus madseni sp. nov. based on an almost complete fossil from the Fur Formation in northwestern Denmark. The fossil is the second Dermaptera species described from the early Ypresian Fur Formation and the first fossil representative of the enigmatic family Apachyidae. Today, Apachyidae are restricted to Central Africa, and the Orient from southern India to the Philippines and northern Australia. The new fossil thus represents not only a new addition to the fossil mo-clay fauna, but also a considerable expansion of the historical biogeographical ranges of Apachyidae.

Review of fossil heterostigmatic mites (Acari: Heterostigmata) from late Eocene Rovno Amber. II. Family Resinacaridae, with redescription of Resinacarus resinatus (Vitzthum), four new species and a new genus

The fossil representatives of the family Resinacaridae (Acari: Heterostigmata) from the Late Eocene Rovno amber are reviewed. Three new species are described in the genus Resinacarus Vitzthum, namely, R. longipilis sp. nov., R. vitzthumi sp. nov., and R. striatus sp. nov. A new genus and species, Pararesinacarus krczali gen. and sp. nov. are also described. The extant species Pararesinacarus aradii (Krczal) comb. nov. was moved from Resinacarus. All active stages of the extant type species of the genus Resinacarus, R. resinatus Vitzthum, are redescribed based on type material. A key to genera and species of Resinacaridae is also provided.

A new sponge from the Marjum Formation of Utah documents the Cambrian origin of the hexactinellid body plan.

Modern poriferans are classified into four classes-Calcarea, Demospongiae, Hexactinellida and Homoscleromorpha-the recognition of which in fossil specimens almost exclusively relies on spicule morphology and arrangement. Early fossil representatives of the phylum Porifera are morphologically diverse, and many of them problematically display characteristics that are incompatible with the classification scheme developed for modern taxa. Critically, hexactine spicules-a diagnostic feature of hexactinellids among modern taxa-are found in various Cambrian and Ordovician taxa that cannot be accommodated within the hexactinellid body plan. Here we describe a new poriferan from the Drumian Marjum Formation of Utah, Polygoniella turrelli gen. et sp. nov., which exhibits a unique combination of complex anatomical features for a Cambrian form, including a syconoid-like organization, a thick body wall, and a multi-layered hexactin-based skeleton. The hexactinellid-like body wall architecture of this new species supports a Cambrian origin of the hexactinellid body plan and provides valuable insights into character evolution in early glass sponges.

First representatives of the stonefly genus Perlomyia and the beaded lacewing genus Isoscelipteron from the Upper Miocene of France (Plecoptera: Leuctridae and Neuroptera: Berothidae), with biogeographical considerations

The leuctrid stonefly Perlomyia cantalensis sp. nov. and the berothid lacewing Isoscelipteron bertrandi sp. nov. are described from the Upper Miocene (ca. 5.60 ± 0.3 Ma) Konservat-Laggerstätte of Sainte-Reine (Cantal, France). They represent the first fossil representatives of their respective genera. Perlomyia Banks, 1906 is currently distributed in the Eastern Palearctic and the Western Nearctic coasts and islands. All extant Perlomyia spp. are known to live in streams, rivers and creeks, suggesting the presence of rivers connected to the maar paleolake of Sainte-Reine. The genus Perlomyia was much more widely distributed during the Miocene than today and probably disappeared in Europe due to the Quaternary glaciations. The genus Isoscelipteron Costa, 1863 is currently distributed in the Nearctic, Eastern Palaearctic, Indomalaysia, and Australasia regions, together with two relictual Mediterranean species. These two examples show that the study of the entomofauna from the diatomite outcrops of the Miocene of center of France helps to calibrate the history and origin of modern Palearctic insects.

Biogeographical patterns of the porcelaneous larger foraminifer Alveolinella quoyi through the integration of fossil data

In the present-day Indo-Pacific coral-reef settings two genera of alveolinoidean porcelaneous larger benthic foraminifera (LBF) occur, namely Alveolinella and Borelis. Alveolinella is represented by a single species, A. quoyi, whose northernmost record is in Okinawa-jima (central Ryukyu Islands, Japan). Although the Indo-Pacific area, and especially the Coral Triangle, is a biodiversity hotspot since the Early Miocene, in-depth investigation on fossil representatives of present-day LBF is limited to a few taxa. To help bridge this knowledge gap, the palaeobiogeographical dynamics of A. quoyi is assessed. Analysis of data from the palaeontological literature shows that its first appearance datum is from the Tortonian (Late Miocene) of East Kalimantan and Papua New Guinea. In the Pliocene–Pleistocene the Indonesian Throughflow constrained the species within the Central Indo-Pacific. Finally, during the Late Pliocene the northward migrants arrived in the shallow-water carbonate settings of Okinawa-jima where the species is still thriving.

Cretacetrocta, a new genus of barklice from the Early Cretaceous Lebanese amber

Pachytroctidae is a diverse extant family of Troctomorpha, represented by few fossil taxa from the Cretaceous ambers of Myanmar and Lebanon, and a single species from the Eocene amber of France (Oise). Herein, we describe and illustrate a new monospecific genus Cretacetrocta libanella Hakim & Azar gen. et sp. nov. from the Lower Cretaceous Bqaatouta amber outcrop (Lebanon). The new taxon is tentatively assigned to Pachytroctidae, and the only hitherto record from Lebanese amber of the subfamily Tapinellinae. The new finding reveals potential unreliability of the character ‘nodulus’ as a key diagnostic characteristic of the family, at the very least among fossil representatives. On the other hand, sexual dimorphism, a common trait in modern species of the Pachytroctidae, remains unveiled among extinct taxa.

The history of short-tailed whip scorpions: changes in body size and flagellum shape in Schizomida

Representatives of Schizomida, known as short-tailed whip scorpions, are an understudied group within Megoperculata. They are found subterraneanly in tropical and sub-tropical regions. They lack eyes, have superior mobility, and possess a flagellum which is relevant to their mating, but in general little is known about their general biology. Fossil representatives of Schizomida from a variety of time periods are available for study. Using 23 fossil specimens (14 of which are described here for the first time) and 86 extant individuals from the literature, changes in both body size and flagella shape in Schizomida were compared over time. Measurements of prosoma length and leg length were used as a proxy for body size, and a comparative size analysis was carried out. Individuals from the Cretaceous period were found to be significantly smaller than extant individuals, contrary to our expectations. For flagellum shape, images were used to create reconstructions, which were then analysed using an elliptic Fourier analysis followed by a principal component analysis. The morphological diversity of the male flagellum shape was found to have decreased between the Cretaceous and modern fauna. We discuss potential explanations for our findings, although a greater understanding of the general biology of Schizomida is required to properly interpret our results.

New report of decapod crustaceans from the Miocene of Iran

We report some brachyuran crabs from the late Miocene of Dar Pahn unit, Makran Province, Iran. The studied specimens have been assigned to Ixoides MacGilchrist, 1905, with I. miocenicus n. sp. (Leucosiidae Samouelle, 1819) and Persianus arcuatus n. gen., n. sp. (Portunidae Rafinesque, 1815). Ixoides miocenicus n. sp. represents the first fossil representative of the genus, enlarging its stratigraphic range to the Miocene. Persianus arcuatus n. gen., n. sp. represents the first report of a portunid crab from the Miocene of Iran. We also report an indeterminate majoid crab, representing the first report for the Majoidea from the Miocene of Iran. Finally, one portunid crab is compared with Persianus n. gen. based on some similar morphological characters.

First report of fossil representative of Zygosporium mont. With stacked chained vesicular conidiophores from India

In the present manuscript, we describe and illustrate a novel foliicolous fossil-species of Zygosporium Mont. (Zygosporiaceae: Xylariales: Sordariomycetes) on compressed monocot leaf recovered from the Middle Siwalik sediments (Late Miocene) of Himachal Pradesh, western Himalaya. The new fossil-species characterized by macronematous, dark brown, unbranched or occasionally branched conidiophores with a chain of up to four integrated dark brown, curved, thick-walled, swollen, hook-like, alternately or sub-oppositely arranged vesicles is described here as Zygosporium himachalensis sp. nov. This is the first fossil evidence of Zygosporium having stacked chained vesicular conidiophores and is so significant data for both paleomycologists and mycologists. The in-situ occurrence of Z. himachalensis on monocot leaf cuticles suggests a possible host–saprophyte relationship that might have existed in the ancient forest of Himachal Pradesh during the Miocene.

A new Middle Eocene Baltic amber Exechiini (Diptera: Mycetophilidae) supports the likely rapid radiation of the tribe

ABSTRACT Here, we describe a Brachypeza sg. Ristocordyla sp. undetermined from the Eocene Baltic amber, as the first fossil representative of its subgenus, otherwise known from one extant Palaearctic species. We avoid naming it because it is based on a female specimen, hardly comparable to the extant species and to future fossils from the Baltic amber, because the species differences are mainly based on the male genitalia. As other recently described amber species, the new fossil supports a likely rapid radiation of the tribe Exechiini followed by an evolutionary stasis at the genus level. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:3C601626-8EA6-495C-953C-BE1494B20A84

NEW FOSSIL LACEWING LARVAE WITH TRUMPET-SHAPED ELONGATE EMPODIA PROVIDE INSIGHT INTO THE EVOLUTION OF THIS ATTACHMENT STRUCTURE

The larval life phase often represents the major share of the life span of holometabolans, such as beetles or flies. Therefore, knowledge of these larvae is crucial concerning ecological functions, but also concerning the evolutionary history of the different groups. In the holometabolan group Neuroptera (lacewings), larvae have numerous specialisations, among them the venom-injecting mouthparts, the stylets. Another such very characteristic feature of many lacewing larvae is the empodium, an attachment structure at the tip of the leg, which varies in shape in the larvae of the different lacewing groups. One type of empodium is the elongate trumpet-shaped type, which is found in several lacewing groups today as well as in many fossil representatives, especially well visible due to preservation in amber. Based on the pattern of phylogenetic distribution of the elongate trumpet-shaped empodium, different reconstructions of the evolution of this structure have been put forward, some suggesting possibly convergent evolution, others repetitive losses. In this study, new lacewing larvae preserved in 100-million-year-old amber from Myanmar are presented, which expand the number of lineages with an elongate trumpet-shaped empodium. Based on these new data, the implications on the evolutionary history of the different lineages within Neuroptera are discussed. The fossils demand for an earlier evolution in some reconstructions, but especially for more and later losses of this structure.

The first sawfly from the Oligocene of Céreste (Southern France) (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae)

Luberotenthredo cerestensis gen. et sp. nov. is the first record of the sawfly family Tenthredinidae from the Oligocene of Céreste (Southern France). This taxon is described and illustrated based on a well-preserved specimen. This genus resembles the extant genus Perineura (subfamily Tenthredininae, tribe Perineurini) with which it shares forewing venation similarities and numerous morphological characters. This new taxon is the first fossil representative of the tribe Perineurini and can be used as a calibration point for future investigation of the diversification of the family Tenthredinidae.

The first fossil representative of the extant clubtail dragonfly genus Lindenia from the mid-Miocene of Öhningen, Germany

The first fossil representative of the extant clubtail dragonfly genus Lindenia from the mid-Miocene of Öhningen, Germany

A tiny duck (<em>Sibirionetta formozovi</em> sp. nov.), a giant grey partridge (<em>Titanoperdix felixi</em> gen. et sp. nov.), a new rail (<em>Porzana payevskyi</em> sp. nov.), and other birds from the Early Pleistocene of Baikalian Siberia

The paper describes fossil birds from the Early Pleistocene (Gelasian) of Malye Goly locality in the Baikal area of the East Siberia (Irkutsk Region, Russia). This is the first studied bird fauna from the Early Pleistocene of the Northern Asia, shedding the first light on the early Quaternary bird associations of the Siberia. A tiny fossil duck Sibirionetta formozovi sp. nov. is the first fossil representative of the modern genus Sibirionetta, the modern endemic of Eastern Siberia. This find documents the long-time (at least since the Early Pleistocene) presence of these ducks in the region. A new large pheasant-sized phasianid bird Titanoperdix felixi gen. et sp. nov. is a large-sized representative of the grey partridge evolutionary lineage (Perdicini). This find is in agreement with the fact that modern relatively small grey partridges (genus Perdix) are phylogenetically nested within the larger-bodied pheasants. Among other birds from the locality are Tadorna tadorna, three other ducks (including one diving form), Perdix cf. dauurica, Porzana payevskyi sp. nov., Podicipedidae gen. indet., Scolopacidae gen. indet., and Corvidae gen. indet. The assemblage indicates a rather productive water body with mostly open landscapes in the vicinity. The avifauna from Malye Goly does not show any considerable affinity with the Late Pliocene avian assemblages from Southern Transbaikalia and Northern Mongolia, as well as with the Early Pleistocene bird fauna of Eastern China, and thus most likely represents a separate paleornithogeographical unit. Porzana payevskyi sp. nov. is one of the oldest confirmed representatives of Porzana s.s. in the fossil record, supporting the Asian origin of the genus and a probable out-of-Asia dispersal to North America in the Early Pleistocene.

New Baltic amber Rhagionidae (Insecta, Diptera)

A new species of Rhagionidae, Symphoromyia odileae, is described from the Middle Eocene Baltic amber. Chrysopilus meunieri Kerr, 2010, also from the Baltic amber, is redescribed on the basis of a new specimen, and its attribution to the genus Chrysopilus is confirmed. This specimen of Chrysopilus can be considered as the first accurate fossil representative of this genus. Although Symphoromyia odileae sp. nov. shows the diagnostic characters of the genus, it has also a series of hind tibia macrosetae, unlike in the other representatives of the genus. Chrysopilus meunieri Kerr, 2010 differs from the extant species in the cell cua being open.

The First Fossil Find of Darwin Wasps of the Subfamily Poemeniinae (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) with Description of a New Genus and Species in Baltic Amber

A fossil representative of Darwin wasps of the subfamily Poemeniinae was first discovered from the Late Eocene Baltic amber; the Amberpoemenia kirejtshuki gen. et sp. nov. has been described. The fossil genus Amberpoemenia in the subfamily occupies an isolated position having features of specialization that are not typical of the recent representatives of the sufam. Poemeniinae.

A new species of possible archipolypodan millipedefrom the Carboniferous of the Netherlandswith unusually long tergites

Millipedes have a long evolutionary history, with the oldest presumed fossils of Diplopoda de Blainville in Gervais, 1844 being from the Silurian and the first definite fossil record originating from Devonian deposits. The phylogeny of Diplopoda is not fully resolved yet, especially not concerning fossil representatives. At the same time, already in the Palaeozoic millipedes showed quite a morphological and presumably also ecological variety. We describe here a new species of a Carboniferous millipede from the Westphalian A of the Netherlands, Lauravolsella willemeni n. gen., n. sp., a possible representative of Archipolypoda (†Archipolypoda Scudder, 1882). The species is based on a single specimen, preserved with part and counterpart, which both show a three-dimensional preservation. The specimen has unusually long tergites, in normal life position covering most of the following segment. These long tergites might have been beneficial when performing defensive enrolling. In extant millipedes, enrolling is usually facilitated by softer areas between the sternites, allowing for a certain degree of ventral compression. In the new fossil, the sclerotic sternites occupy the entire length of the ventral side of the segment, not allowing for any type of compression. The new fossil therefore demonstrates another solution for the mechanical challenges during enrolment and increases the morphological diversity of Carboniferous millipedes.

First known extinct feathertail possums (Acrobatidae, Marsupialia): palaeobiodiversity, phylogenetics, palaeoecology and palaeogeography

Four new fossil feathertail possum species (Marsupialia, Diprotodontia, Phalangerida, Petauroidea, Acrobatidae) are described from late Oligocene to middle Miocene fossil deposits in the Riversleigh World Heritage Area, northwestern Queensland. They are the first pre-Pleistocene fossil representatives of this family to be described. Two species are referred to the modern genus Acrobates and two to the modern genus Distoechurus. These species are distinguished from each other and from the living Distoechurus pennatus and Acrobates pygmaeus on the basis of qualitative and quantitative characters of the first lower molar (m1), which is the only tooth known for all four fossil species. Fortunately, m1 is morphologically the most variable tooth in the cheektooth row of acrobatids, and it exhibits numerous genus- and species-specific features. Phylogenetic analyses based on dental characters strongly support monophyly of Acrobatidae relative to other petauroids, as well as providing relatively strong support for reciprocal monophyly of Acrobates and Distoechurus, including the newly described fossil members of these genera. Recognition of species of Acrobates and Distoechurus in these fossil deposits is broadly congruent with recent estimates for the time of divergence of the two modern genera based on molecular data, and also provides an additional fossil calibration point for future studies of marsupial divergence times. These fossil species provide new insights into the biogeographical and ecological history of this enigmatic family of small possums, specifically that the oldest known species of Acrobates occurred in closed forest environments (in contrast to the living species, A. pygmaeus and Acrobates frontalis, which today inhabit open sclerophyll forests and woodlands) and that Distoechurus appears to have originated in Australia, only subsequently dispersing to New Guinea before becoming extinct in its Australian homeland.Prudence R. Fabian [pruefabian@gmail.com], Michael Archer [m.archer@unsw.edu.au], Suzanne J. Hand [s.hand@unsw.edu.au], Earth and Sustainability Science Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; Robin M.D. Beck [r.m.d.beck@salford.ac.uk], School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Manchester M5 4WT, UK.

The first fossil representative of the water strider subfamily Ptilomerinae (Heteroptera: Gerromorpha: Gerridae) in the Oligocene paleolake of Murs (southern France) with some palaeoecological considerations

Oligoptilomera luberonensis gen. et sp. nov., first fossil representative of the gerrid subfamily Ptilomerinae, is described and figured from the Oligocene of Murs (Vaucluse, Southern France). Extant Ptilomerinae live in streams in warm climates, of the Indo-Malaysian, eastern Palaearctic, and Papouan regions. The discovery of this Oligocene French Ptilomerinae is in accordance with the putative age of the subfamily, at least older than the Eocene, and with the Indo-Malaysian affinities previously recorded for some other insects from the Oligocene of France. The two insect assemblages of Murs and Céreste are compared and the differences discussed. Although of similar ages, that from Murs was possibly corresponding to a more shallow water paleolake than that of Céreste.