In Depth Protostephanus is a species of crown wasp that lived in North America during the late Eocene. The genus is based upon a partially preserved individual preserved in volcanic ash. This individual is speculated to be female to the presence of what seems to be a partially preserved ovipositor (egg laying organ). Further Reading … Read more
In Depth Arthrolycosa is an example of one of the earliest spiders, and like its name sake the Lycosa genus, Arthrolycosa would have hunted on the ground. Web spinning would not be a development until much later which means that Arthrolycosa would have probably lurked near cover while waiting for prey to pass by. When … Read more
In Depth Baltocteniza is a genus of trapdoor spider known to have lived in what is now North east Europe during the Eocene. Trapdoor spiders are famous either for digging out burrows or lining existing crevices in rocks and trees with silk and then covering the end with a hinged ‘trapdoor’ made out of dirt, … Read more
In Depth Eophyllium is a genus of leaf insect that is known to have lived in Europe, specifically Germany, during the Eocene. The holotype specimen is preserved flat on a slab of sedimentary rock and has allowed for a very interesting insight into how leaf insects evolved. Eophyllium differs from modern forms in that the … Read more
Megarachne: Research Database Eurypterida (Chelicerata) · Late Carboniferous (~300 MYA) · South America — Uruguay (Piedra Shale) Research Note: Megarachne was a giant eurypterid (sea scorpion) from the Late Carboniferous of Uruguay. Famous for its initial misidentification as a giant spider, it provides important data on eurypterid diversity and evolution in the Carboniferous of … Read more
Anomalocaris: Research Database Anomalocarididae (Stem-group Arthropods) · Cambrian (~525-500 MYA) · Global (Burgess Shale, Canada & Chengjiang, China) Research Note: Anomalocaris was the largest animal of the Cambrian period and one of the earliest apex predators. It is a stem-group arthropod, distantly related to all modern arthropods. The complete body plan was only understood after … Read more
In Depth Palaeophonus is one of the oldest known scorpions but there is uncertainty as to if it was fully terrestrial. Although the body seems to have been adapted for life on land, the respiratory openings usually seen in terrestrial scorpions have so far gone unobserved in Palaeophonus. Despite this uncertainty Palaeophonus seems to have … Read more
Ainiktozoon: Research Database Theropoda · Cretaceous · Unknown Research Note: Ainiktozoon was a theropoda from the Cretaceous of Unknown, providing important data on prehistoric life and ecosystem dynamics. Research Finding Status Grade Year Method Citation Impact Ritchie 1985: Ainiktozoon and related taxa Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology Confirmed B 1985 Fossil Ritchie, … Read more
In Depth Like the giant Meganeura, Pulmonoscorpius is thought to have achieved its large size from the higher oxygen content of the air of the Carboniferous period. The superficial morphology of Pulmonoscorpius is that of a larger version to today’s scorpions, although its proportionally larger eyes have led to the suggestion that it may have … Read more
In Depth Proraphidia is a genus of snakefly that lived during the Mesozoic. The first specimen discovered in Kazakstan was determined to come from a deposit Mid Jurassic in age, but later discoveries in England and Spain have revealed that the Proraphidia genus survived all the way to the Early Cretaceous. As a snakefly Proraphidia … Read more