Epiborkhausenites
Encyclopedia
Epiborkhausenites is an extinct genus
of moth
in the concealer moth family Oecophoridae
and containing a single
species Epiborkhausenites obscurotrimaculatus. The species is known only from Middle Eocene, Bartonian stage
, Baltic amber
deposits near the town of Palanga
in Lithuania
.
, specimen "No. 16,8 IGUW/AWS". It is a single, mostly complete female, preserved as a three dimensional fossil in transparent yellow amber
. The 18 x amber specimen is from the fossiliferous Tyszkiewicz's Amber Mine which is located near the seaside town of Palanga. While the type description does not mention the geologic age of the amber, dating of the material based on the microfauna inclusions present gives a date of 37.7 mya. The type specimen is currently preserved in the Palaeozoological Laboratory amber collections housed in the University of Warsaw
, located in Warsaw
, Poland
. Epiborkhausenites was first studied by Andrzej W. Skalski of Czestochowa, Poland
, with his 1973 type description being published in the journal Acta Palaeontologica Polonica
. The generic
name was coined by Skalski in reference to the similarity of the genus to the related genus Paraborkhausenites. The explanation
for the specific epithet
obscurotrimaculatus refers the three dark spots that are visible on the fore-wings
.
Visual comparison of E. obscurotrimaculatus to other fossil species from amber showed a close relationship with Paraborkhausenites innominatus, Borkhausenites implicatella and B. incertella. Paraborkhausenites can be distinguished from Epiborkhausenites by the vein structuring in the fore wings with Paraborkhausenites having r1, r2, and r3 veins which run parallel to each other. In Epiborkhausenites the spacing between the r1 and r2 is larger than the spacing between the r2 and r3.
Based on the observable external character of the wing venation, E. obscurotrimaculatus to the modern species Tubuliferola josephinae, Hofmannophila pseudospretella
, Himmacia huachucella, Psilocorsis quercicella and Inga sparsiciliella. Skalski notes that the species Tubuliferola josephinae and Hofmannophila pseudospretella both have a very similar color patterning of spots on the fore wings as that seen on E. obscurotrimaculatus.
, each with a larger dark spot present near the transversal vein and two positioned on the basal half of the wing. This color patterning was the first observed on a microlepidoptera
n fossil in amber.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of moth
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
in the concealer moth family Oecophoridae
Oecophoridae
Oecophoridae is a family of small moths in the superfamily Gelechioidea. The phylogeny and systematics of gelechoid moths are still not fully resolved, and the circumscription of the Oecophoridae is strongly affected by this....
and containing a single
Monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group with only one biological type. The term's usage differs slightly between botany and zoology. The term monotypic has a separate use in conservation biology, monotypic habitat, regarding species habitat conversion eliminating biodiversity and...
species Epiborkhausenites obscurotrimaculatus. The species is known only from Middle Eocene, Bartonian stage
Bartonian
The Bartonian is, in the ICS's geological timescale, a stage or age in the middle Eocene epoch or series. The Bartonian age spans the time between and . It is preceded by the Lutetian and is followed by the Priabonian age.-Stratigraphic definition:...
, Baltic amber
Baltic amber
The Baltic region is home to the largest known deposit of amber, called Baltic amber or succinite, with about 80% of the world's known amber found there. It dates from 44 million years ago...
deposits near the town of Palanga
Palanga
Palanga and beautiful sand dunes. Officially Palanga has the status of a city municipality and includes Šventoji, Nemirseta, Būtingė and other settlements, which are considered as part of the city of Palanga.-Legend:...
in Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
.
History and classification
Epiborkhausenites obscurotrimaculatus is known only from one fossil, the holotypeHolotype
A holotype is a single physical example of an organism, known to have been used when the species was formally described. It is either the single such physical example or one of several such, but explicitly designated as the holotype...
, specimen "No. 16,8 IGUW/AWS". It is a single, mostly complete female, preserved as a three dimensional fossil in transparent yellow amber
Amber
Amber is fossilized tree resin , which has been appreciated for its color and natural beauty since Neolithic times. Amber is used as an ingredient in perfumes, as a healing agent in folk medicine, and as jewelry. There are five classes of amber, defined on the basis of their chemical constituents...
. The 18 x amber specimen is from the fossiliferous Tyszkiewicz's Amber Mine which is located near the seaside town of Palanga. While the type description does not mention the geologic age of the amber, dating of the material based on the microfauna inclusions present gives a date of 37.7 mya. The type specimen is currently preserved in the Palaeozoological Laboratory amber collections housed in the University of Warsaw
University of Warsaw
The University of Warsaw is the largest university in Poland and one of the most prestigious, ranked as best Polish university in 2010 and 2011...
, located in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. Epiborkhausenites was first studied by Andrzej W. Skalski of Czestochowa, Poland
Czestochowa
Częstochowa is a city in south Poland on the Warta River with 240,027 inhabitants . It has been situated in the Silesian Voivodeship since 1999, and was previously the capital of Częstochowa Voivodeship...
, with his 1973 type description being published in the journal Acta Palaeontologica Polonica
Acta Palaeontologica Polonica
Acta Palaeontologica Polonica is a peer-reviewed open access journal of paleontology and paleobiology, founded by Roman Kozłowski in 1956. It is published by the Institute of Paleobiology of the Polish Academy of Sciences and edited by Richard L...
. The generic
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
name was coined by Skalski in reference to the similarity of the genus to the related genus Paraborkhausenites. The explanation
Etymology
Etymology is the study of the history of words, their origins, and how their form and meaning have changed over time.For languages with a long written history, etymologists make use of texts in these languages and texts about the languages to gather knowledge about how words were used during...
for the specific epithet
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
obscurotrimaculatus refers the three dark spots that are visible on the fore-wings
Insect wing
Insects are the only group of invertebrates known to have evolved flight. Insects possess some remarkable flight characteristics and abilities, still far superior to attempts by humans to replicate their capabilities. Even our understanding of the aerodynamics of flexible, flapping wings and how...
.
Visual comparison of E. obscurotrimaculatus to other fossil species from amber showed a close relationship with Paraborkhausenites innominatus, Borkhausenites implicatella and B. incertella. Paraborkhausenites can be distinguished from Epiborkhausenites by the vein structuring in the fore wings with Paraborkhausenites having r1, r2, and r3 veins which run parallel to each other. In Epiborkhausenites the spacing between the r1 and r2 is larger than the spacing between the r2 and r3.
Based on the observable external character of the wing venation, E. obscurotrimaculatus to the modern species Tubuliferola josephinae, Hofmannophila pseudospretella
Hofmannophila pseudospretella
The Brown House Moth is a species of the concealer moth family , wherein it belongs to subfamily Oecophorinae. It is the only known member of its genus Hofmannophila, and as is often the case for such monotypic taxa, the genus' distinctness remains to be conclusively proven...
, Himmacia huachucella, Psilocorsis quercicella and Inga sparsiciliella. Skalski notes that the species Tubuliferola josephinae and Hofmannophila pseudospretella both have a very similar color patterning of spots on the fore wings as that seen on E. obscurotrimaculatus.
Description
The holotype female is considered remarkably well preserved and complete, missing only the palpi labiales which were possibly plucked. The underside of the abdomen is obscured by a delicate milky coating. One of the hind wings shows a deformation due to folding. The 4.3 millimetre (0.169291338582677 in) fore wings are a little over 3 times as long as they are wide and have a blunt tip. The hindwings are slightly narrower than the forewings. The fore wings show a well preserved and distinct color patteringAnimal colouration
Animal coloration is the general appearance of an animal resulting from the reflection or emission of light from its surfaces. The mechanisms for colour production in animals include pigments, chromatophores, structural coloration, and bioluminescence....
, each with a larger dark spot present near the transversal vein and two positioned on the basal half of the wing. This color patterning was the first observed on a microlepidoptera
Microlepidoptera
Microlepidoptera is an artificial grouping of moth families, commonly known as the 'smaller moths' . These generally have a wingspan of under 20 mm, and are thus harder to identify by external phenotypic markings than macrolepidoptera...
n fossil in amber.