Animal fossils preserved in various geological materials, such as limestone, claystone, or amber, provide detailed information on extinct species that is indispensable for retracing the evolution of terrestrial life. Here, we present the first record of an animal fossil preserved in opal formed by weathering with such high-resolution details that even individual cuticle hairs are observed. The fossil consists of the exoskeleton of a nymphal insect belonging to the order Hemiptera and either the family Tettigarctidae or the Cicadidae. This identification is based on anatomical details such as the tibial and femoral morphology of the forelegs. The exoskeleton of the insect was primarily zeolitized during the alteration of the host rocks and later sealed in opal deposited by silica-rich fluids derived from the continental weathering of the volcanic host rocks. Organic matter is preserved in the form of amorphous carbon. This finding makes opal formed by rocks weathering a new, complementary source of animal fossils, offering new prospects for the search for ancient life in the early history of Earth and possibly other terrestrial planets such as Mars, where weathering-formed opal occurs.

Actias 44260 Savenay France

Biology Centre of Academy of Sciences Institute of Entomology Branisovska 31 České Budějovice Czech Republic

CNRS IRD IFSTTAR ISTerre Université Grenoble Alpes Université Savoie Mont Blanc 38000 Grenoble France

Laboratoire de Planétologie Et Géodynamique CNRS UMR 6112 Université de Nantes BP 92208 44322 Nantes France

School of Behavioral and Natural Sciences Mount St Joseph University Cincinnati OH USA

Timberbrook Capital Philadelphia PA USA

Univ Grenoble Alpes CNRS Grenoble INP SIMAP 38000 Grenoble France

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Mesozoic evolution of cicadas and their origins of vocalization and root feeding