Eco-morphological diversity of larvae of soldier flies and their closest relatives in deep time

PeerJ

article

Viktor A. Baranov¹  Yinan Wang²  Rok Gašparič³  Sonja Wedmann⁴  Joachim T. Haug¹ 

[1] Biology II, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München;Association of Applied Paleontological Sciences;Oertijdmuseum;Department of Messel Research and Mammalogy, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum;GeoBio-Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

关键词: Stratiomyomorpha;    Diptera;    Amber;    Messel;    Morphospace;    Soldier Flies;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.10356

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

Stratiomyomorpha (soldier flies and allies) is an ingroup of Diptera, with a fossil record stretching back to the Early Cretaceous (the Barremian, about 125 MYA). Stratiomyomorpha includes at least 3,000 species in the modern fauna, with many species being crucial for ecosystem functions, especially as saprophages. Larvae of many stratiomyomorphans are especially important as scavengers and saproxyls in modern ecosystems. Yet, fossil larvae of the group are extremely scarce. Here we present 23 new records of fossil stratiomyomorphan larvae, representing six discrete morphotypes. Specimens originate from Cretaceous amber from Myanmar, Eocene Baltic amber, Miocene Dominican amber, and compression fossils from the Eocene of Messel (Germany) and the Miocene of Slovenia. We discuss the implications of these new records for our understanding of stratiomyomorphan ecomorphology in deep time as well as their palaeoecology.

【 授权许可】

CC BY