The oldest representative of the extant barklice genus Psyllipsocus (Psocodea: Trogiomorpha: Psyllipsocidae) from the Cenomanian amber of Myanmar

Papers in Palaeontology

Peñalver

Nel

et al. 2022

Self Cite

Barklice are insects belonging to the order Psocodea. They are herbivorous or detritivorous, and inhabit a wide range of environments. Their oldest fossil record dates back to the late Carboniferous, but it was not until the Cretaceous that they became much more diverse. However, their fossil record could be affected by taphonomic processes due to their tiny size and soft bodies. Here, we present new psocid specimens from five amber‐bearing outcrops in Spain that are Albian in age. One of the specimens, a well‐preserved psocid nymph assigned to †Archaeatropidae, lacks evidence of debris‐carrying behaviour. Some of the specimens belong to the previously known species Archaeatropos alavensis Baz & Ortuño and Preempheria antiqua Baz & Ortuño (Trogiomorpha: Atropetae), providing new anatomical and biogeographical information. Furthermore, we describe a new species, Libanoglaris hespericus sp. nov. (†Archaeatropidae). The diagnosis for the family †Archaeatropidae is emended. The abundance of psocids in Cretaceous amber and their virtual absence in compression outcrops could be due to taphonomic bias. Considerations on the phylogenetic placement of trogiomorphan families and the relationships between †Archaeatropidae and †Empheriidae are included. Today, the least diverse psocid suborder is Trogiomorpha, but this suborder comprises the majority of the Cretaceous psocodean species described to date, possibly due to palaeobiological or evolutionary constraints. Trogiomorphans could have been relegated to marginal habitats by niche competition with psocomorphans. Debris‐carrying behaviour in response to predatory pressure might not have been widely distributed, geographically or phylogenetically, in the Cretaceous psocid nymphs.

Section: Infraorder Family Genus and Species Type Locality Age Notesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Infraorder Family Genus and Species Type Locality Age Notesmentioning

confidence: 99%

New barklice (Psocodea, Trogiomorpha) from Lower Cretaceous Spanish amber

Papers in Palaeontology

Peñalver

Nel

et al. 2022

Self Cite

“…The Ariño psocid fauna differs from those previously described from other Iberian ambers, and some specimens will be described as new taxa. Extant psocids feed on algae, lichens, and fungi from diverse warm and humid habitats; such autoecology was likely already present in the group during the Cretaceous, rendering them common inhabitants of the resiniferous forests ( Álvarez-Parra et al, 2020b ). The Ariño amber insect groups with phytophagous feeding habits include thrips, hemipterans, and orthopterans.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dinosaur bonebed amber from an original swamp forest soil

Fuente²,

Peñalver³

et al. 2021

eLife

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Dinosaur bonebeds with amber content, yet scarce, offer a superior wealth and quality of data on ancient terrestrial ecosystems. However, the preserved palaeodiversity and/or taphonomic characteristics of these exceptional localities had hitherto limited their palaeobiological potential. Here, we describe the amber from the Lower Cretaceous dinosaur bonebed of Ariño (Teruel, Spain) using a multidisciplinary approach. Amber is found in both a root layer with amber strictly in situ and a litter layer mainly composed of aerial pieces unusually rich in bioinclusions, encompassing 11 insect orders, arachnids, and a few plant and vertebrate remains, including a feather. Additional palaeontological data—charophytes, palynomorphs, ostracods— are provided. Ariño arguably represents the most prolific and palaeobiologically diverse locality in which fossiliferous amber and a dinosaur bonebed have been found in association, and the only one known where the vast majority of the palaeontological assemblage suffered no or low-grade pre-burial transport. This has unlocked unprecedentedly complete and reliable palaeoecological data out of two complementary windows of preservation—the bonebed and the amber—from the same site.

Section: )mentioning

confidence: 99%

Dinosaur bonebed amber from an original swamp forest soil

Fuente

Peñalver³

et al. 2021

Preprint

Self Cite

Dinosaur bonebeds with amber content, yet scarce, offer a superior wealth and quality of data on ancient terrestrial ecosystems. However, the preserved palaeodiversity and/or taphonomic characteristics of these exceptional localities had hitherto limited their palaeobiological potential. Here we describe the amber from the Lower Cretaceous dinosaur bonebed of Ariño (Teruel, Spain) using a multidisciplinary approach. Amber is found in both a root layer with amber strictly in situ and a litter layer namely composed of aerial pieces unusually rich in bioinclusions, encompassing 11 insect orders, arachnids, and a few plant and vertebrate remains, including a feather. Additional palaeontological data - charophytes, palynomorphs, ostracods - are provided. Ariño arguably represents the most prolific and palaeobiologically diverse locality in which fossiliferous amber and a dinosaur bonebed have been found in association, and the only one known where the vast majority of the palaeontological assemblage suffered no or low-grade pre-burial transport. That has enabled unlocking unprecedentedly complete and reliable palaeoecological data out of two complementary windows of preservation from the same site.