A new genus of hawker dragonfly (Odonata: Anisoptera: Aeshnidae) from the Early Eocene Fur Formation of Denmark

Bechly, Günter; Rasmussen, Jan Audun

doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4550.1.6

Cited by 486 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…Recent research has made considerable progress with respect to insect fossilization processes (e.g., [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]). However, although previous work on insects from the Stolleklint Clay and Fur Formation has touched upon taphonomic and biostratinomic processes [20][21][22][23], most studies have focused on other aspects of the assemblage (e.g., [24][25][26][27][28]). Moreover, in-depth chemical and ultrastructural analyses that can provide valuable information on fossil preservation patterns have so far been conducted almost exclusively on vertebrate remains [29][30][31][32][33][34], while insects, despite their great abundance, merely have been the subject of a single investigation [5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preservation and Taphonomy of Fossil Insects from the Earliest Eocene of Denmark

Heingård

Sjövall

Schultz

et al. 2022

Biology

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Marine sediments of the lowermost Eocene Stolleklint Clay and Fur Formation of north-western Denmark have yielded abundant well-preserved insects. However, despite a long history of research, in-depth information pertaining to preservational modes and taphonomic pathways of these exceptional animal fossils remains scarce. In this paper, we use a combination of scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) to assess the ultrastructural and molecular composition of three insect fossils: a wasp (Hymenoptera), a damselfly (Odonata) and a pair of beetle elytra (Coleoptera). Our analyses show that all specimens are preserved as organic remnants that originate from the exoskeleton, with the elytra displaying a greater level of morphological fidelity than the other fossils. TEM analysis of the elytra revealed minute features, including a multilayered epicuticle comparable to those nanostructures that generate metallic colors in modern insects. Additionally, ToF-SIMS analyses provided spectral evidence for chemical residues of the pigment eumelanin as part of the cuticular remains. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first occasion where both structural colors and chemical traces of an endogenous pigment have been documented in a single fossil specimen. Overall, our results provide novel insights into the nature of insect body fossils and additionally shed light on exceptionally preserved terrestrial insect faunas found in marine paleoenvironments.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preservation and Taphonomy of Fossil Insects from the Earliest Eocene of Denmark

Heingård

Sjövall

Schultz

et al. 2022

Biology

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“…Bechly et al (2001) . Nel and Fleck (2014) assigned the Priabonian Anglogomphaeschna to it, but the genus was later transferred to the Aeshninae by Bechly and Rasmussen (2019), despite the presence of a cordulegastrid gap, which they note is weakly developed in this genus.…”

Section: Idemlinea Archibald and Cannings New Genusmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(2) supratriangle with crossveins; Garrison et al (2006), Cretaceous Baissaeshna species from Bechly et al (2001), and the Eocene Parabaissaeshna ejerslevense from Bechly and Rasmussen (2019). IR1 originating on RP1 in P. ejerslevense is rendered red, see text.…”

Section: Antiquiala Archibald and Cannings New Genusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fossil dragonflies (Odonata: Anisoptera) from the early Eocene Okanagan Highlands, western North America

Archibald

Cannings

2019

Can Entomol

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We describe the first dragonflies (Odonata: Anisoptera) from the early Eocene Okanagan Highlands of far-western North America from nine fossils. Six are assigned to five species in four new, named genera of Aeshnidae: Antiquiala snyderaenew genus and species, Idemlinea versatilisnew genus and species, Ypshna brownleeinew genus and species, Ypshna latipennatanew genus and species, and Eoshna thompsonensisnew genus and species; we treat one as Aeshnidae genus A, species A; one is assigned to Gomphidae: Auroradraco eosnew genus and species; and we treat a ninth, fragmentary fossil of unknown family affinity as Anisoptera indeterminate genus A, species A, which represents a seventh genus and eighth species. The dominance of Aeshnidae is consistent with other Paleocene and Eocene fossil localities. Auroradraco eos is the only fossil Gomphidae in the roughly 66-million-year gap between occurrences in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber and the early Oligocene of France. Ypshna appears close to Parabaissaeshna ejerslevense from the early Eocene Fur Formation of Denmark; this is not surprising given Holarctic intercontinental connections at this time and a growing list of insect taxa shared between the Okanagan Highlands and the Fur Formation.

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“…The fossil assemblage comprises: (1) more than 110 species of diatoms and other siliceous algae (Homann, 1991); (2) terrestrial plants, including seeds, fruiting structures of angiosperms and gymnosperms, tree trunks and twigs (especially Sequoia ), leaves, and a diverse microflora consisting of 42 types of spores and more than 100 types of pollen (Willumsen, 2004; Pedersen et al, 2012); (3) the earliest known Eocene insect fauna with more than 25,000 cataloged specimens belonging to more than 200 species from 15 orders, in many cases representing the earliest known lineages of several families (e.g., Larsson, 1975; Willmann, 1990, 1993; Ansorge, 1992; Rust, 1998; Archibald & Makarkin, 2006; Bechly & Rasmussen, 2019; Simonsen et al, 2022); (4) marine invertebrates, e.g., bivalves, gastropods, ophiuroids, and asteroids (Pedersen et al, 2012; Rasmussen, 1972); (5) specimens of Palaeophis Owen, 1841 also documenting a rare case of an articulated marine snake skeleton (Pedersen et al, 2012; Kristensen et al, 2012); (6) marine and freshwater turtle remains, including an almost complete specimen of Eosphargis Lydekker, 1889 and arguably the world's best preserved fossil chelonid, Tasbacka danica Karl & Madsen, 2012 (Nielsen, 1960; Karl & Lindow, 2010; Karl & Madsen, 2012; Lindgren et al, 2017; Garza et al, 2021); and (7) landbirds, including the earliest forms of stem-group parrots, ibises, trogons, turacos, and rollers (Kristoffersen, 2002; Waterhouse et al, 2008; Bertelli et al, 2010; Mayr & Bertelli, 2011; Bourdon et al, 2016). The fossil bird remains comprise imprints in the diatomite, isolated bones, feathers with preserved melanosomes, and complete articulated skeletons, counting Eocypselus vincenti Harrison, 1984, which is one of the best preserved bird fossils in the record and the earliest representative of the swifts (Dyke et al, 2004; Lindow & Dyke, 2007; Waterhouse et al, 2008; Bertelli et al, 2010; Mayr, 2010; gren et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Butyrumichthys henriciigen. et sp. nov.: a new stromateiform fish from the lower Eocene Fur Formation, Denmark

Schrøder

Rasmussen

Carnevale

2022

Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology

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A new genus and species of stromateiform fish, Butyrumichthys henricii gen. et sp. nov., from the Eocene Fur Formation of Denmark is described. The description is based on six well-preserved, almost complete articulated skeletons plus a well-preserved head. All the specimens originate from the carbonate concretion horizons of the Fur Formation. The fossils were investigated also through element-mapping of strontium and phosphorus using a micro-XRF spectrometer in order to expose and enhance the skeletal anatomy. Butyrumichthys gen. nov. exhibits a unique combination of characters that support its recognition as a new stromateoiform genus, including jaws with uniserially arranged, small conical teeth, preopercle with at least 15 prominent spines, 37-38 (17-18 + 20) vertebrae, dorsal fin with 5-6 weak spines and 27-28 soft rays, and anal fin with two spines and 19-20 soft rays. The new fossil stromateoid described herein shows several morphological similarities to certain species of the genus Schedophilus Cocco, 1839, especially S. pemarco (Poll, 1959) and S. medusophagus (Cocco, 1839), and is tentatively referred to the family Centrolophidae. The exceptionally preserved fossil fishes of the Fur Formation increase our knowledge of the diversity of Paleogene marine teleosts, also providing some of the earliest occurrences of modern lineages based on articulated skeletal remains, including that of the stromateiforms. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:2A2531C6-FD86-4DF2-9765-FEB17F689081 SUPPLEMENTAL DATA-Supplemental materials are available for this article for free at www.tandfonline.com/UJVP.

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A new genus of hawker dragonfly (Odonata: Anisoptera: Aeshnidae) from the Early Eocene Fur Formation of Denmark

Cited by 486 publications

References 6 publications

Preservation and Taphonomy of Fossil Insects from the Earliest Eocene of Denmark

Preservation and Taphonomy of Fossil Insects from the Earliest Eocene of Denmark

Fossil dragonflies (Odonata: Anisoptera) from the early Eocene Okanagan Highlands, western North America

Butyrumichthys henriciigen. et sp. nov.: a new stromateiform fish from the lower Eocene Fur Formation, Denmark

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