Formosibittacus
Encyclopedia
Formosibittacus is an extinct genus
of hangingfly
in the family Bittacidae and containing a single
species Formosibittacus macularis. The species is known only from the Middle Jurassic
Jiulongshan Formation, part of the Daohugou Beds
, near the village of Daohugou in Ningcheng County
, northeastern China
.
, specimen numbers "CNU-M-NN2007001-1" and "CNU-M-NN2007001-2" for the part and counterpart
respectively. The specimen is composed of an almost complete specimen of unidentified sex and is preserved as a compression fossil
in sedimentary rock. The fossil was recovered from outcrops of the Jiulongshan Formation exposed in the Wuhua Township by Fang Liang. The type specimen is currently preserved in the Key Lab of Insect Evolution & Environmental Changes collections housed in the Capital Normal University
, located in Beijing
, China
. Formosibittacus was first studied by Yan-Li Li, Dong Ren and ChungKun Shih of the Capital Normal University. Their 2008 type description of the genus and species was published online and then in print in the journal Zootaxa
. The generic
name was coined by Li, Ren and Shih from a combination of the Latin
"formos" meaning beautiful and the modern Bittacidae genus Bittacus
to which Formosibittacus is related. The etymology
of the specific epithet
macularis is in reference to the numerous maculae which are present on the holotype wings.
Formosibittacus macularis is one of six genera of fossil Bittacidae to be described from China. Along with Formosibittacus, Mongolbittacus
and Jurahylobittacus
known from the Jiulongshan Formation, while Megabittacus and Sibirobittacus are from the Yixian Formation
and Liaobittacus is from the Haifanggou Formation
.
shows a clear pattern of mottled color pattering
along the cross veins which would have been light and dark coloration in life. The fore-wings are 23 millimetre (0.905511811023622 in) long and the hind-wings are 20 millimetre (0.78740157480315 in) long. The hind and forewings are very similar in shape and vein structure, only differing in a fusion of the 1A and CuP veins along with the 2A vein ending before the Rs starts in the hind wing. Overall the wings have a narrow base section widening to approximately 5 millimetre (0.196850393700787 in) along most of the length.
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 hangingfly
Hangingfly
Bittacidae is a family of scorpionflies commonly called Hangingflies or hanging scorpionflies.The genus Bittacus, comprising approximately 75 percent of all species within the family, occurs worldwide. Other genera are mostly confined to South America or Australia...
in the family Bittacidae 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 Formosibittacus macularis. The species is known only from the Middle Jurassic
Middle Jurassic
The Middle Jurassic is the second epoch of the Jurassic Period. It lasted from 176-161 million years ago. In European lithostratigraphy, rocks of this Middle Jurassic age are called the Dogger....
Jiulongshan Formation, part of the Daohugou Beds
Daohugou Beds
The Daohugou Beds are a series of fossil-bearing rock deposits located in northeastern China, with the type locality around Daohugou village of Ningcheng County south of Chifeng, Inner Mongolia, but extending into southwest Liaoning. The rocks are grey, finely bedded, lacustrine, sandy mudstones...
, near the village of Daohugou in Ningcheng County
Ningcheng County
Ningcheng County is a county of southeastern Inner Mongolia, People's Republic of China, bordering Liaoning province to the east. It is under the administration of Chifeng City.-References:*...
, northeastern China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.
History and classification
Formosibittacus macularis 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 numbers "CNU-M-NN2007001-1" and "CNU-M-NN2007001-2" for the part and counterpart
Counter slab
Counter slab and slab are the matching halves of a fossil-bearing matrix formed in sedimentary deposits. When excavated the matrix may be split along the natural grain or cleavage of the rock. A fossil embedded in the sediment may then also split down the middle, with fossil remains sticking to...
respectively. The specimen is composed of an almost complete specimen of unidentified sex and is preserved as a compression fossil
Compression fossil
A compression fossil is a fossil preserved in sedimentary rock that has undergone physical compression. While it is uncommon to find animals preserved as good compression fossils, it is very common to find plants preserved this way...
in sedimentary rock. The fossil was recovered from outcrops of the Jiulongshan Formation exposed in the Wuhua Township by Fang Liang. The type specimen is currently preserved in the Key Lab of Insect Evolution & Environmental Changes collections housed in the Capital Normal University
Capital Normal University
Capital Normal University is a university in Beijing, China. It is covered by Project 211, a policy to renew and modernize educational facilities in the People's Republic of China.-History:...
, located in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Formosibittacus was first studied by Yan-Li Li, Dong Ren and ChungKun Shih of the Capital Normal University. Their 2008 type description of the genus and species was published online and then in print in the journal Zootaxa
Zootaxa
Zootaxa is a peer-reviewed scientific journal for animal taxonomists. It is published by Magnolia Press . The journal was established by Zhi-Qiang Zhang in 2001 and new issues are published multiple times a week...
. 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 Li, Ren and Shih from a combination of the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
"formos" meaning beautiful and the modern Bittacidae genus Bittacus
Bittacus
Bittacus is a genus of hanging flies in the order Mecoptera. Members of the genus have a cosmopolitan distribution.-Characteristics:Members of this genus have long legs, the front pair of which are modified for grasping and are used to hang from vegetation. The other two pairs have tarsal claws and...
to which Formosibittacus is related. The etymology
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...
of 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...
macularis is in reference to the numerous maculae which are present on the holotype wings.
Formosibittacus macularis is one of six genera of fossil Bittacidae to be described from China. Along with Formosibittacus, Mongolbittacus
Mongolbittacus
Mongolbittacus is an extinct genus of hangingfly in the family Bittacidae and containing a single species Mongolbittacus daohugoensis...
and Jurahylobittacus
Jurahylobittacus
Jurahylobittacus is an extinct genus of hangingfly in the family Bittacidae and containing a single species Jurahylobittacus astictus...
known from the Jiulongshan Formation, while Megabittacus and Sibirobittacus are from the Yixian Formation
Yixian Formation
The Yixian Formation is a geological formation in Jinzhou, Liaoning, People's Republic of China, that spans 11 million years during the early Cretaceous period...
and Liaobittacus is from the Haifanggou Formation
Haifanggou Formation
The Haifanggou Formation is a fossil-bearing rock deposit located in northeastern China, near Daohugou village of Ningcheng County. The rocks consists of coarse conglomerates, sandstone, mudstone and thin coal layers. The formation dates from the Middle Jurassic.-Arthropods:-Flora:...
.
Description
The holotype specimen is mostly complete with the apical sections of a single hind-wing missing. The fore and hind-wingsInsect 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...
shows a clear pattern of mottled color pattering
Animal 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....
along the cross veins which would have been light and dark coloration in life. The fore-wings are 23 millimetre (0.905511811023622 in) long and the hind-wings are 20 millimetre (0.78740157480315 in) long. The hind and forewings are very similar in shape and vein structure, only differing in a fusion of the 1A and CuP veins along with the 2A vein ending before the Rs starts in the hind wing. Overall the wings have a narrow base section widening to approximately 5 millimetre (0.196850393700787 in) along most of the length.