Delitzschala
Temporal range:
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: †Palaeodictyoptera
Family: †Spilapteridae
Genus: †Delitzschala
Brauckmann et Schneider, 1996[1]
Species:
†D. bitterfeldensis
Binomial name
†Delitzschala bitterfeldensis
Brauckmann et Schneider, 1996

Delitzschala is an extinct palaeodictyopteran, the oldest known to science. It was discovered by two German entomologists in 1996. Delitzschala had a wingspan of just 2½ cm (1 in) and an irregular pattern of coloured spots on its wings. Although it was from Middle Carboniferous (Namurian),[2] these spots were still visible in the fossil. It is possible that this camouflaged the animal, as it may have rested with its wings open as many modern-day insects do.

References

  1. ↑ Brauckmann, Carsten; Schneider, Joerg (1996). "Ein unter-karbonisches Insekt aus dem Raum Bitterfeld/Delitzsch (Pterygota, Arnsbergium, Deutschland)" [A Lower Carboniferous insect from the Bitterfeld/Delitzsch area (Pterygota, Arnsbergian, Germany)]. Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie - Monatshefte (in German). 1996 (1): 17–30. doi:10.1127/njgpm/1996/1996/17.
  2. ↑ Brauckmann, Carsten; Brauckmann, Brigitte; Gröning, Elke (1996-02-01). "The stratigraphical position of the oldest known Pterygota (insecta. Carboniferous, Namurian)". Annales de la Société géologique de Belgique. ISSN 0037-9395.
  • Dragonhunters V. Medland (2007) Econotes at the Cofrin Center for Biodiversity
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