Ektatotricha
| Ektatotricha Temporal range:
| |
|---|---|
Scientific classification
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Staphylinidae |
| Genus: | †Ektatotricha Chatzimanolis,Engel&Newton,2010 |
| Species: | †E. paradoxa
|
| Binomial name | |
| †Ektatotricha paradoxa Chatzimanolis, Engel & Newton, 2010
| |
Ektatotrichais an extinct,monotypic,genus ofant-like stone beetlein the familyStaphylinidaecontaining the single speciesEktatotricha paradoxa.[1]
The genus is known from a total of 15 specimens inamberfrom amber deposits near Tanai Village 105 kilometres (65 mi) northwest ofMyitkyinain theKachinregion of Myanmar. Burmese amber has beenradiometrically datedusingU-Pbisotopes, yielding an age of approximately 99 million years old, close to theAptian–Cenomanianboundary.[2]Theholotype,a single, complete adult with specimen number "AMNH Bu-1464", and six of theparatypesare now deposited in theAmerican Museum of Natural History.Four more of the paratypes are deposited in theUniversity of Kansas Natural History Museumcollections inLawrence, Kansas,USA. The remaining two paratype specimens are currently in a private collection, but are to be deposited in theField Museum of Natural History,Chicago. In addition to the holotype and 12 paratypes, two other American Museum of Natural History specimens were examined as part of the study; however, they were not designated as type material.[1]
Background[edit]
The knownEktatotrichaspecimens were first studied by DrsStylianos Chatzimanolisof theUniversity of Tennessee,Michael Engelof theUniversity of Kansas,andAlfred Newtonof theField Museum.[1]Chatzimanolis, Engel and Newton published the 2010type descriptionforE. paradoxain the journalCretaceous Research,Volume 31.
The genus name is a feminine combination of theGreekektatos,meaning "extended", which refers to the visible fifth and sixth abdominal sterna, andtrichameaning "hair". The species nameparadoxais from the Greekparadoxon,meaning "riddle".[1]
Description[edit]
The beetles are small, being between 0.65 to 0.85 millimetres (0.026 to 0.033 in) long. Their bodies are brown to reddish brown in color and have a dense covering of hairs which are notably long. Because the fifth and sixth abdominal sterna are extended, and thus visible, the genus has been placed in theScydmaeninae,supertribeHapsomelitae.
Ektatotrichadiffers from the other member of the supertribe,Hapsomela,by havingmaxillary palpiwhich are almost equal in length, a different antenna shape, and by the depth of the punctures on the fore wings. LikeHapsomela,the protibia ofEktatotrichahave a well-developed hook, which may have been used in mating or male-male combat between rivals. It has also been suggested that the hooks may have been used to capture prey.[1]
References[edit]
- ^abcdeStylianos Chatzimanolis; Michael S. Engel; Alfred F. Newton; David A. Grimaldi (2010). "New ant-like stone beetles in mid-Cretaceous amber from Myanmar (Coleoptera:Staphylinidae: Scydmaeninae)".Cretaceous Research.31(1): 77–84.doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2009.09.009.
- ^Barden, P.; Grimaldi, D. (2012)."Rediscovery of the bizarre Cretaceous antHaidomyrmexDlussky (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), with two new species "(PDF).American Museum Novitates(3755): 1–16.doi:10.1206/3755.2.hdl:2246/6368.S2CID83598305.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2013-04-23.Retrieved2014-09-01.