30-million-year-old cockroach sperm found in amber samples

George Poinar Jr., professor emeritus in the College of Science at Oregon State University, found

a new species of cockroaches. It turned out it was a male.The new species, named Supella dominicana, is encased in Dominican amber and is the first fossil cockroach found with sperm.

Yellow is visible on the wings of the insect.There is a transverse stripe, and there is also a similar mark on the body, which “seems to divide the body into two parts,” the scientist explains. The cockroach also has long spines, which it uses for protection. They are found on the legs of the insect, especially pronounced on the hind legs. The sample is about 30 million years old.

Credit: Oregon State University

The scientist discovered a bundle of sperm with dark acrosomes - these are the structures that cover their head.

As is the case with another cockroach, Supella, which was previously found in Mexican amber, the closest living relatives of S. dominicana live in Africa and Asia.

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