Gesomyrmex germanicus is an extinctspecies of ant in the subfamily Formicinae known from an Eocene fossil found in Europe. G. germanicus is one of only eight species in the ant genus Gesomyrmex to have been described from fossils found in Europe.
When described Gesomyrmex germanicus was known from a group of four insects which are compression-impression fossils preserved in a layer of soft sedimentary rock.[1] Along with other well preserved insect fossils, the G. germanicus specimens were collected from layers of the Lutetian Eckfeld maar. The formation is composed of Brown coals, oil shales, and Bituminous shale which preserved numerous insects, fish, birds, reptiles, and terrestrial mammals as a notable lagerstätten. The area is a preserved maar lake which initially formed approximately 47 million years ago as the result of volcanic explosions.[1][2]
At the time of description, the type series consisted of the holotype specimen, NHMM PE-1997/29 and paratype specimen NHMM PE-1998/13; along with two additional fossils NHMM PE-1998/1 and NHMM PE-1998/9. They were preserved in the Landessammlung fur Naturkunde Rheinland-Pfalz fossil collections. The insects were first studied by German entomologists Gennady Dlussky, Torsten Wappler and Sonja Wedmann, with their 2009 type description of the new species being published in the electronic journal Zootaxa. The specific epithetgermanicus is derived from Germany, the country where the fossils are found.[1]
The species is one of eight Gesomyrmex species, all of which have been described from European fossils. Three species were described prior to G. germanicus, G. bremii in 1849, G. hoernesi in 1868, and G. miegi in 1937. The remaining four species; G. breviceps, G. curiosus, G. flavescens, and G. pulcher were all described by Dlussky et al in the same 2009 paper as G. germanicus.[1] Six modern species have been described so far, all from the Tropical regions of Asia, creating a disjunct distribution between the fossil species and the modern species.[1]
Descriptionedit
The Gesomyrmex germanicus specimens are partially preserved queen caste adults which are fossilized with their dorsal side facing upwards and the attached wings folded along their back. The overall length of the hoplotype queen is approximately 9–10 mm (0.35–0.39 in) and the head has an estimated length of 2.0 mm (0.079 in). The antennae are slender in appearance, composed of a scape which extends to the middle of the eye and an undetermined number of funicular segments. The overall coloration of the body is black, while the wings are preserved as clear, with darkened pterostigma.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abcdefDlussky, GM; Wappler, T; Wedmann, S (2009). "Fossil ants of the genus Gesomyrmex Mayr (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from the Eocene of Europe and remarks on the evolution of arboreal ant communities". Zootaxa. 2031: 1–20. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.2031.1.1. S2CID 56253714.
^Háva, J; Wappler, T (2014). "A new genus and species of Dermestidae (Coleoptera) from the Eckfeld Maar crater (Middle Eocene, Germany)". Bulletin of Geosciences. 89 (1): 67–74. doi:10.3140/bull.geosci.1469.
December 18, 2023
gesomyrmex, germanicus, extinct, species, subfamily, formicinae, known, from, eocene, fossil, found, europe, germanicus, only, eight, species, genus, gesomyrmex, have, been, described, from, fossils, found, europe, temporal, range, lutetian, preꞒ, germanicus, . Gesomyrmex germanicus is an extinct species of ant in the subfamily Formicinae known from an Eocene fossil found in Europe G germanicus is one of only eight species in the ant genus Gesomyrmex to have been described from fossils found in Europe Gesomyrmex germanicusTemporal range Lutetian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N G germanicus holotypeScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ArthropodaClass InsectaOrder HymenopteraFamily FormicidaeSubfamily FormicinaeGenus GesomyrmexSpecies G germanicusBinomial name Gesomyrmex germanicusDlussky Wappler amp Wedmann 2009History and classification editWhen described Gesomyrmex germanicus was known from a group of four insects which are compression impression fossils preserved in a layer of soft sedimentary rock 1 Along with other well preserved insect fossils the G germanicus specimens were collected from layers of the Lutetian Eckfeld maar The formation is composed of Brown coals oil shales and Bituminous shale which preserved numerous insects fish birds reptiles and terrestrial mammals as a notable lagerstatten The area is a preserved maar lake which initially formed approximately 47 million years ago as the result of volcanic explosions 1 2 At the time of description the type series consisted of the holotype specimen NHMM PE 1997 29 and paratype specimen NHMM PE 1998 13 along with two additional fossils NHMM PE 1998 1 and NHMM PE 1998 9 They were preserved in the Landessammlung fur Naturkunde Rheinland Pfalz fossil collections The insects were first studied by German entomologists Gennady Dlussky Torsten Wappler and Sonja Wedmann with their 2009 type description of the new species being published in the electronic journal Zootaxa The specific epithet germanicus is derived from Germany the country where the fossils are found 1 The species is one of eight Gesomyrmex species all of which have been described from European fossils Three species were described prior to G germanicus G bremii in 1849 G hoernesi in 1868 and G miegi in 1937 The remaining four species G breviceps G curiosus G flavescens and G pulcher were all described by Dlussky et al in the same 2009 paper as G germanicus 1 Six modern species have been described so far all from the Tropical regions of Asia creating a disjunct distribution between the fossil species and the modern species 1 Description editThe Gesomyrmex germanicus specimens are partially preserved queen caste adults which are fossilized with their dorsal side facing upwards and the attached wings folded along their back The overall length of the hoplotype queen is approximately 9 10 mm 0 35 0 39 in and the head has an estimated length of 2 0 mm 0 079 in The antennae are slender in appearance composed of a scape which extends to the middle of the eye and an undetermined number of funicular segments The overall coloration of the body is black while the wings are preserved as clear with darkened pterostigma 1 References edit a b c d e f Dlussky GM Wappler T Wedmann S 2009 Fossil ants of the genus Gesomyrmex Mayr Hymenoptera Formicidae from the Eocene of Europe and remarks on the evolution of arboreal ant communities Zootaxa 2031 1 20 doi 10 11646 zootaxa 2031 1 1 S2CID 56253714 Hava J Wappler T 2014 A new genus and species of Dermestidae Coleoptera from the Eckfeld Maar crater Middle Eocene Germany Bulletin of Geosciences 89 1 67 74 doi 10 3140 bull geosci 1469 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gesomyrmex germanicus amp oldid 1180196109, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
