Insects are the only arthropod group to achieve powered flight, which facilitated their explosive radiation on land. It remains a significant challenge to understand the evolutionary transition from nonflying (apterygote) to flying (pterygote) insects due to the large gap in the fossil record. Under such a situation, ontogenic information has historically been used to compensate for fossil evidence. Recent evo-devo studies support and refine a paleontology-based classical hypothesis that an ancestral exite incorporated into the body wall contributed to the origin of insect wings. The modern hypothesis locates an ancestral precoxa leg segment with an exite within the hexapod lateral tergum, reframing the long-standing debate on the insect wing origin. A current focus is on the contributions of the incorporated exite homolog and surrounding tissues, such as the pleuron and the medial bona fide tergum, to wing evolution. In parallel, recent analyses of Paleozoic fossils have confirmed thoracic and abdominal lateral body outgrowths as transitional wing precursors and suggested their possible role as respiratory organs in aquatic or semiaquatic environments. These recent studies have revised our understanding of the transition to flying insects. This review highlights recent progress in both evo-devo and paleontology, and discusses future challenges, including the evolution of metamorphic development.
We describe a new species of Yethiha Caterino, 2021, a third representative of the genus. As the other species, Yethiha lackneri sp. nov. is reported from Kachin amber of the mid-Cretaceous age. Its discovery provides further evidence of the diverse Cretaceous fauna of clown beetles associated with decaying trees. We provide a diagnostic key to all three species of Yethiha and explain probable function of their protibial spurs.
- MeSH
- anatomické struktury zvířat anatomie a histologie růst a vývoj MeSH
- brouci * klasifikace anatomie a histologie růst a vývoj MeSH
- jantar MeSH
- rozšíření zvířat MeSH
- velikost orgánu MeSH
- velikost těla MeSH
- zkameněliny * anatomie a histologie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Názvy látek
- jantar MeSH
We describe the earliest known representatives of the subfamily Hesperininae, and species of the extant genus Penthetria, from mid-Cretaceous amber of Myanmar. Penthetria is represented by Penthetria tenue sp. nov. and Penthetria tipuloides sp. nov. We also describe seven new species in the recently described genus Protopenthetria Li et al, 2021, which we also provisionally place in Hesperininae. In the nominate subgenus we describe Protopenthetria (s.str.) rectangula sp. nov. and P. (s.str.) longicornis sp. nov. which are probably related to Protopenthetria skartveiti Li et al., 2021. The new subgenus Megacephaletria subgen.n. is described, including five species, Protopenthetria (Megacephaletria) bicoloripes sp. nov., P. (M.) coronata sp. nov., P. (M.) crassitarsalis sp. nov., P. (M.) globistylus sp. nov. and P. (M.) pallipes sp. nov. The present results suggest that Myanmar amber includes a species-rich fauna of bibionid flies.
- MeSH
- anatomické struktury zvířat anatomie a histologie růst a vývoj MeSH
- Diptera * klasifikace anatomie a histologie růst a vývoj MeSH
- jantar * chemie MeSH
- rozšíření zvířat MeSH
- velikost orgánu MeSH
- velikost těla MeSH
- zkameněliny * anatomie a histologie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Myanmar MeSH
- Názvy látek
- jantar * MeSH
The first extinct Paleogene species of the Anobiinae genus Nicobium LeConte, 1861 is described based on an inclusion in Baltic amber. Two characteristic features distinguishing the extinct species (among other characters present in one combination or another in extant species) are sparse, inconspicuous elytral pubescence and rectangular, sharp posterior pronotal angles. The new species, Nicobium necrocrator sp. nov., is just the second described extinct representative of the genus. Its discovery adds to our knowledge of the diversity of deathwatch beetles in the amberiferous forests of the Eocene-and establishes an important reference point for future studies of the origin and distribution of these wood-boring beetles living millions of years ago.
- MeSH
- anatomické struktury zvířat anatomie a histologie růst a vývoj MeSH
- brouci * anatomie a histologie klasifikace MeSH
- jantar * chemie MeSH
- rozšíření zvířat * MeSH
- velikost orgánu MeSH
- velikost těla MeSH
- zkameněliny * anatomie a histologie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- pobaltské republiky MeSH
- Názvy látek
- jantar * MeSH
†Rhantus villumi sp. nov. is described and illustrated on the basis of a single specimen from the earliest Eocene Fur Formation, Denmark. With an estimated age of ca. 55.4 Ma, it represents the oldest member of an extant genus of the family Dytiscidae. However, the presence of Rhantus in the early Eocene is only slightly older than previous estimates, and generally agrees well with phylogenetic analyses of the subfamily Colymbetinae. The presence of a predominantly temperate genus in the presumably warm Lagerstätte is briefly discussed, supporting the hypothesis of temporary cooling, as suggested by several other invertebrate records from the Fur Formation. It is suggested that the new species could feed on mosquito larvae, which are known from the Lagerstätte. Finally, a record of another Dytiscidae species from the same locality is mentioned, but, due to poor preservation and lack of diagnostic characters, this fossil remains unidentified to genus or species level.
- MeSH
- anatomické struktury zvířat anatomie a histologie růst a vývoj MeSH
- brouci * anatomie a histologie klasifikace MeSH
- fylogeneze MeSH
- rozšíření zvířat MeSH
- velikost orgánu MeSH
- velikost těla MeSH
- zkameněliny * anatomie a histologie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Dánsko MeSH
Permopsocids are small acercarian insects with mouthparts specialized for sucking. They are closely related to Hemiptera and Thysanoptera. The earliest known representatives are from the Early Permian. Here evidence is presented that the Permopsocida occurred even earlier in Pennsylvanian (Moscovian) deposits in the Piesberg quarry near Osnabrück (Lower Saxony, Germany). This material is assigned to the Permian family Psocidiidae; Carbonopsocus mercuryi gen. et sp. nov., based on the wing venation diagnosed by the unique branching pattern of the main veins, the shape of the areola postica being longer than wide, the angular shape of the pterostigma, the ir crossvein directed proximally mid of pterostigma (apomorphy) and the vannus formed by the three veins of PCu, A1 and A2. The shape of the veins, with a Y-vein formed by the distal fusion of PCu with A1, could be a putative symplesiomorphy of the Psocodea with Permopsocida and Hemiptera. C. mercuryi gen. et sp. nov. is the first appearance date for Permopsocida and roots the Acercaria tree. In addition, another specimen of Dichentomum cf. arroyo (Psocidiidae) from Carrizo Arroyo is presented and figured, confirming the presence of the genus Dichentomum near the Carboniferous-Permian boundary and linking it to the Artinskian species from Elmo in Kansas, USA.
- Klíčová slova
- Acercaria, Insecta, Pennsylvanian, Permian, Psocidiidae, Wing venation,
- MeSH
- hmyz * anatomie a histologie MeSH
- křídla zvířecí * anatomie a histologie MeSH
- zkameněliny * anatomie a histologie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Německo MeSH
Corneous skin appendages are not only common and diverse in crown-group amniotes but also present in some modern amphibians. This raises the still unresolved question of whether the ability to form corneous skin appendages is an apomorphy of a common ancestor of amphibians and amniotes or evolved independently in both groups. So far, there is no palaeontological contribution to the issue owing to the lack of keratin soft tissue preservation in Palaeozoic anamniotes. New data are provided by a recently discovered ichnofossil specimen from the early Permian of Poland that shows monospecific tetrapod footprints associated with a partial scaly body impression. The traces can be unambiguously attributed to diadectids and are interpreted as the globally first evidence of horned scales in tetrapods close to the origin of amniotes. Taking hitherto little-noticed scaly skin impressions of lepospondyl stem amniotes from the early Permian of Germany into account, the possibility has to be considered that the evolutionary origin of epidermal scales deeply roots among anamniotes.
- Klíčová slova
- corneous structures, early tetrapods, palaeozoic, scale pattern, skin appendages,
- MeSH
- biologická evoluce * MeSH
- epidermis * anatomie a histologie MeSH
- kůže anatomie a histologie MeSH
- obojživelníci anatomie a histologie klasifikace MeSH
- zkameněliny * anatomie a histologie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- zvířecí šupiny anatomie a histologie MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Polsko MeSH
External male genitalia of insects are greatly diverse in form and frequently used in evolutionary context and taxonomy. Therefore, our proper recognition of homologous structures among various groups from Paleozoic and extant insect taxa is of crucial interest, allowing to understand the key steps in insect evolution. Here, we reveal structural details of two Late Carboniferous representatives of Megasecoptera (families Bardohymenidae and Brodiopteridae), such as the presence of separated coxal plates VIII and ventral expansions of coxal lobes IX. Together with the confirmed presence of abdominal styli in some other members of Palaeodictyopterida (Diaphanopterodea) this suggests that early pterygotes may have had traits more archaic than expected. Whether or not these traits point to a stem-group relationship of Palaeodictyopterida to all other Pterygota as suspected by earlier authors remains unclear at this stage. Furthermore, the present study provides an updated comparison of male postabdomen morphology among extant species of wingless Archaeognatha and representatives of early diverging groups of Pterygota from the Late Carboniferous and Early Permian, the Megasecoptera (Palaeodictyopterida), Permoplectoptera (Ephemeroptera) and Meganisoptera (Odonatoptera).
- Klíčová slova
- Archaeognatha, Comparative morphology, Insecta, Male genitalia, Palaeodictyopterida, Pterygota,
- MeSH
- biologická evoluce * MeSH
- břicho MeSH
- hmyz anatomie a histologie MeSH
- Pterygota anatomie a histologie MeSH
- zkameněliny anatomie a histologie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
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.
- MeSH
- členovci MeSH
- geologické sedimenty MeSH
- Hemiptera anatomie a histologie MeSH
- oxid křemičitý MeSH
- počasí MeSH
- vědy o Zemi metody MeSH
- Země (planeta) MeSH
- zkameněliny anatomie a histologie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Názvy látek
- oxid křemičitý MeSH
Megasecoptera is a late Paleozoic order of herbivorous insects with rostrum-like mouthparts and slender homonomous outstretched wings. Our knowledge of their morphology is mainly based on wings while other body parts are scarcely documented. Here we focus on the families Bardohymenidae and Aspidothoracidae. A new well preserved specimen of Sylvohymen cf. sibiricus is described and illustrated, particularly the structures of the external male genitalia previously unknown for Bardohymenidae. Sylvohymen marginatussp. nov. is described from the early Permian of Tshekarda based on unique traits in the wing venation. The genera Paleohymen and Taigahymen are both removed from Bardohymenidae and the latter is transferred to Vorkutiidae. Alexahymen aestatis (Brauckmann, 1991) comb. nov. from Pennsylvanian at Piesberg is transferred from Aspidothoracidae to Bardohymenidae. Piesbergbrodiagen. nov. is designated for Piesbergbrodia tristrata (Brauckmann and Herd, 2003) comb. nov. as a member of Brodiidae and the first known record of this family from Piesberg quarry. The placement of Sylvohymen peckae in the Bardohymenidae is considered doubtful due to lack of significant characters in its venation. Furthermore, our study is focused on the form of the apical cell and the pattern of wing pigmentation. Peculiarities of the integumental outgrowths and external genitalia of representatives of Aspidothoracidae and Bardohymenidae, and other close relatives, are highlighted.
- Klíčová slova
- External genitalia, Insecta, Mischopterida, New species, Systematics, Wing venation,
- MeSH
- hmyz anatomie a histologie klasifikace MeSH
- končetiny anatomie a histologie MeSH
- křídla zvířecí anatomie a histologie MeSH
- mužské pohlavní orgány anatomie a histologie MeSH
- zkameněliny anatomie a histologie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
