Scientists have discovered an insect fossil from the grasshopper family. In this respect informs University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
“Locusts are very rare in the fossil record, so each new specimen represents a new point discovered in the evolutionary history of these insects,” said paleoentomologist Sam Heads. “But perhaps the most striking feature of this fossil is the exceptionally preserved internal organs that are not commonly found in fossils.”
The fossil was discovered on the territory of the state of Colorado in the Green River Formation, the age of the insect is estimated at 50 million years. belonging to this genus Arethaea, most of its representatives have survived to this day. The individual found belongs to a previously unknown extinct species. Arethaea solterae. The finding will help scientists understand how this group of insects evolved over the course of evolution. The preserved soft tissues of the insect are particularly important for this.
In addition to the digestive system, traces of fibers that make up the pectoral muscles associated with the wings were found. They also succeeded in identifying the “fat body”, an organ important to the metabolism of insects. Scientists were most surprised that it was possible to distinguish between reproductive organs. “Small tubes that appear to be connected in a circular structure – and they may only be testicles and additional glands associated with the testicles,” the scientists say. Paleontologists consider it lucky that the organs survived without hitting the rocks.