Newly discovered fossil bugs (Insecta: Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) from the Eocene of Messel (Germany) and Green River (North America) exhibit an exaggerated morphology including prominent spiny humeral and anterolateral angles of the pronotum and a spiny lateral abdominal margin. Especially the humeral angles are unique; they consist of expansive, rounded projections with strong spines, which is a rare trait among pentatomids. A hypothesis for the function of this extreme morphology is defence against small vertebrate predators, such as birds or reptiles. The same protuberances also produce a disruptive effect camouflaging the specimen in its environment and provide additional protection. Therefore, the extreme morphology provides primary as well as secondary anti-predator defence. The morphology of Eospinosus peterkulkai gen. et sp. nov. and E. greenriverensis sp. nov. resembles that of Triplatygini, which today occur exclusively in Madagascar, as well as that of Discocephalinae or Cyrtocorinae, which today occur in the Neotropics. Due to a lack of conclusive characters, it cannot be excluded that the fossil species may represent a case of remarkable convergence and are not related to either taxon. Phylogenetic analyses using parsimony as well as Bayesian algorithms confirmed that the new genus is a member of Pentatomidae, but could not solve its phylogenetic relationships within Pentatomidae.

Department of Entomology National Museum Cirkusova 1740 193 00 Praha 9 Horni Pocernice Czech Republic

Department of Zoology Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul Avenida Bento Gonçalves 9500 prédio 43435 91501 970 Porto Alegre Rio Grande do Sul Brazil

Johann Friedrich Blumenbach Institut für Zoologie and Anthropologie Georg August Universität Göttingen 37073 Göttingen Germany

Senckenberg Forschungsstation Grube Messel Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum Frankfurt Main 64409 Messel Germany

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Bizarre morphology in extinct Eocene bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)

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