Paleontologists discover larval fossilinsect Protoanisolarva juarezi from the Diptera order, which includes modern real (blood-sucking) mosquitoes, flies and midges. The fossil was found in sediments that are about 247 million years old. This is the oldest known Diptera, older than the earliest dinosaurs.
Fossil of the larva of Protoanisolarva juarezi. Image: Enrique Peñalver et al., Papers in Palaeontology
The discovery was made during excavations atnortheast of Mallorca, one of the Spanish Balearic Islands. During the study, paleontologists found a whole insect larva, which left a small imprint of organic remains on two sides of the cracked stone.
Analysis showed unique preservationfossils. The researchers were able to study the external and internal structure of the head, some parts of the digestive system and spiracles - the external openings of the insect's respiratory system. Researchers attribute the fossil to the centipede family (Anisopodidae).
Reconstructed appearance of Protoanisolarva juarezi. Image: Enrique Peñalver et al., Papers in Palaeontology
Researchers note that this larva fedorganic matter from the soil "just" a few million years after the most dramatic mass Permian or great extinction. More than 80% of species died at the boundary between the Permian and Triassic periods.
In the found larva, paleontologists found the mostearly evidence of an amphipneustic respiratory system, which consists of a pair of thoracic and several abdominal spiracles. They believe it's part of an adaptation to extinction-related climate change.
We were able to see some adaptations of the first Diptera to the post-apocalyptic environment at the beginning of the Triassic, such as the respiratory system, which is still found in various groups of insects.
Ricardo Perez de. La Fuente, co-author of the study from Oxford University Museum of Natural History
Read more:
A treasure with 1,000 coins was accidentally found on a farm: what could they buy
Named a vitamin that protects the brain from dementia
It turned out which men are the most fertile: their sperm is 50% better than the rest