Exceptionally preserved beetles in a Triassic coprolite of putative dinosauriform origin

Qvarnström, MartinUppsala universitet,Evolution och utvecklingsbiologi (författare)

The Triassic was a crucial period for the early evolution and diversification of insects, including Coleoptera(1-3)-the most diverse order of organisms on Earth. The study of Triassic beetles, however, relies almost exclusively on flattened fossils with limited character preservation. Using synchrotron microtomography, we investigated a fragmentary Upper Triassic coprolite, which contains a rich record of 3D-preserved minute beetle remains of Triamyxa coprolithica gen. et sp. nov. Some specimens are nearly complete, preserving delicate structures of the legs and antennae. Most of them are congruent morphologically, implying that they are conspecific. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that T. coprolithica is a member of Myxophaga, a small suborder of beetles with a sparse fossil record, and that it represents the only member of the extinct family Triamyxidae fam. nov. Our findings highlight that coprolites can contain insect remains, which are almost as well preserved as in amber. They are thus an important source of information for exploring insect evolution before the Cretaceous-Neogene "amber time window."Treated as food residues, insect remains preserved in coprolites also have important implications for the paleoecology of insectivores, in this case, likely the dinosauriform Silesaurus opolensis.

Fikacek, MartinNatl Sun Yat Sen Univ, Dept Biol Sci, 70 Lienhai Rd, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan.;Natl Museum, Dept Entomol, Prague 9, Czech Republic.;Charles Univ Prague, Fac Sci, Dept Zool, Prague 2, Czech Republic. (författare)
Vikberg Wernström, JoelUppsala universitet,Evolution och utvecklingsbiologi(Swepub:uu)joevi411 (författare)
Huld, SigridUppsala universitet,Paleobiologi(Swepub:uu)sighu850 (författare)
Beutel, Rolf G.Friedrich Schiller Univ Jena, Inst Zool & Evolut Forsch, Jena, Germany. (författare)
Arriaga-Varela, EmmanuelUniv Guadalajara, Ctr Estudios Zool, CUCBA, Zapopan, Mexico. (författare)
Ahlberg, Per,1963-Uppsala universitet,Evolution och utvecklingsbiologi(Swepub:uu)peahl255 (författare)
Niedzwiedzki, Grzegorz,1980-Uppsala universitet,Evolution och utvecklingsbiologi(Swepub:uu)grzni333 (författare)
Uppsala universitetEvolution och utvecklingsbiologi (creator_code:org_t)

Av författaren/redakt...: Qvarnström, Mart ...; Fikacek, Martin; Vikberg Wernströ ...; Huld, Sigrid; Beutel, Rolf G.; Arriaga-Varela, ...; visa fler...; Ahlberg, Per, 19 ...; Niedzwiedzki, Gr ...; visa färre...

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