ABSTRACT
During the Mid-Miocene Climatic Optimum [MMCO, ~14 to 17 million years (Ma) ago], global temperatures were similar to predicted temperatures for the coming century. Limited megathermal paleoclimatic and fossil data are known from this period, despite its potential as an analog for future climate conditions. Here, we report a rich middle Miocene rainforest biome, the Zhangpu biota (~14.7 Ma ago), based on material preserved in amber and associated sedimentary rocks from southeastern China. The record shows that the mid-Miocene rainforest reached at least 24.2°N and was more widespread than previously estimated. Our results not only highlight the role of tropical rainforests acting as evolutionary museums for biodiversity at the generic level but also suggest that the MMCO probably strongly shaped the East Asian biota via the northern expansion of the megathermal rainforest biome. The Zhangpu biota provides an ideal snapshot for biodiversity redistribution during global warming.
ABSTRACT
A new genus and species of pygmy grasshopper (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae) is described from Eocene Baltic amber. Danatettix hoffeinsorum gen. et sp. nov. is assigned to the subfamily Batrachideinae based on antennae with more than 19 antennomeres, sulcate mesofemora, and rectangular paranota. This species is readily distinguished from other batrachideines by a markedly produced vertex, pronotum with divergent internal and external lateral carinae, and highly setiferous female lateral basivalvular sclerite with scabrose integument. The morphology of Danatettix suggests placement within the here defined Tettigidea genus group (comprising Eutettigidea Hancock, 1914, Paurotarsus Hancock, 1900, and Tettigidea Scudder, 1862) and suggests that the latter had diverged from the new Scaria genus group (comprising Eotetrix Gorochov, 2012, Rehnidium Grant, 1956 and Scaria Bolívar, 1887) by the Early Eocene.
Subject(s)
Coleoptera , Grasshoppers , Orthoptera , Amber , Animals , Baltic States , Europe , Female , FossilsABSTRACT
A new genus and species of fossil caddisfly (Insecta: Trichoptera) from the Lower Eocene (Ypresian) Green River Formation of Colorado is described. Litholimnephilops yinani gen. et sp. nov. is the first adult caddisfly to be described from the Green River Formation, and is characterized by large adult body size, presence of ocelli, dark leg spines, and a lack of terminal crossveins in the anterior anastomosis region of the forewings. Terminal genitalia are not visible in the preserved specimen. Familial placement is uncertain, though similarities with the families Limnephilidae and Phryganeidae are observed.
Subject(s)
Insecta , Animals , Body Size , Colorado , Fossils , RiversABSTRACT
Two new extinct fossil cicadellid taxa from Eocene Baltic amber, representing the subfamily Eurymelinae (sensu lato), are described and illustrated, and their relationships to modern leafhoppers are discussed. Eoidiocerus emarginatusgen. and sp. n. is the oldest known representative of the tribe Idiocerini. The new genus resembles some modern Afrotropical and Indomalayan idiocerine genera but differs in having the gena relatively narrow. Archipedionis obscurusgen. and sp. n., is the first well-preserved fossil representative of Macropsini to be described in detail. Previous reports of this tribe from Baltic amber, while credible, included too little morphological information to assess their relationships. Additional comparative notes are provided for previously described fossil taxa belonging to Idiocerini and Macropsini from the Oligocene of Germany. The new combinations Oncopsis sepultus sepultus (Statz, 1950), comb. n. and Oncopsis sepultus austerus (Statz, 1950), comb. n. are proposed for taxa previously included in Bythoscopus Germar. The previously unplaced cicadellid fossil taxon Priscacutius denticulatus Poinar & Brown, 2018 from mid-Cretaceous Myanmar amber is newly placed in subfamily Signoretiinae, tribe Phlogisini, and represents the oldest known member of this subfamily, the only one known from the fossil record and only the second modern cicadellid subfamily confirmed by direct fossil evidence to have been present during the Cretaceous period.
ABSTRACT
A new genus and species of Elcanidae (Insecta: Orthoptera) is described from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. Elcanonympha diana gen. et sp. nov. is known from a single, complete nymph and is distinguished from other elcanids by the pronotum cut by a single transverse sulcus, the dorsal margin of the metafemoral genicula with a row of prominent apical denticles, and the distal third of the metabasitarsus bearing a row of apically directed scale-like spines on the ventral surface.
Subject(s)
Amber , Orthoptera , Animals , Fossils , Insecta , NymphABSTRACT
A new fossil mushroom is described and illustrated from the Lower Cretaceous Crato Formation of northeast Brazil. Gondwanagaricites magnificus gen. et sp. nov. is remarkable for its exceptional preservation as a mineralized replacement in laminated limestone, as all other fossil mushrooms are known from amber inclusions. Gondwanagaricites represents the oldest fossil mushroom to date and the first fossil mushroom from Gondwana.
Subject(s)
Agaricales/physiology , Fossils , Agaricales/ultrastructure , Paleontology , Time FactorsABSTRACT
A NEW GENUS AND SPECIES OF PYGMY GRASSHOPPER (ORTHOPTERA: Tetrigidae) is described from Early Miocene (Burdigalian) Dominican amber. Electrotettix attenboroughi Heads & Thomas, gen. et sp. n. is assigned to the subfamily Cladonotinae based on the deeply forked frontal costa, but is remarkable for the presence of tegmina and hind wings, hitherto unknown in this subfamily.
