Mongolbittacus
Encyclopedia
Mongolbittacus is an extinct genus
of hangingfly
in the family Bittacidae and containing a single
species Mongolbittacus daohugoensis. 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 number "NIGPAS 133709". The specimen is composed of an almost complete female specimen which is preserved as a two dimensional compression fossil
in a well cemented calcareous
grey siltstone
. The fossil was recovered from outcrops of the Jiulongshan Formation exposed near Daohugou by Di-Ying Huang. The type specimen is currently preserved in the geology collections housed in the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology
, located in Nanjing
, China
. Mongolbittacus was first studied by Julián F. Petrulevicius of the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle
in Paris, France, Di-Ying Huang of 2Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, and Dong Ren of Capital Normal University
in Beijing
. Their 2007 type description of the genus and species was published in the journal African Invertebrates
. The generic
name was coined by Petrulevicius, Huang and Ren from a combination of "Mongol", a reference to the region of discovery; and the modern Bittacidae genus Bittacus
to which Mongolbittacus is related. The etymology
of the specific epithet
daohugoensis is in reference type locality where the fossil preserved.
Mongolbittacus daohugoensis is one of six genera of fossil Bittacidae to be described from China. Along with Mongolbittacus, Jurahylobittacus
and Formosibittacus
are known from the Jiulongshan Formation, while Megabittacus and Sibirobittacus are from the Yixian Formation
and Liaobittacus is from the Haifanggou Formation
.
missing, and small sections of the legs obscured. The fore and hind-wings of Mongolbittacus do not show any signs of color pattering
unlike the genus Formosibittacus alongside which it lived. Also unlike Formosibittacus the wings of M. daohugoensis do not have any maculae. The fore-wings are 11.1 millimetre (0.437007874015748 in) long and the hind-wings are 9.5 millimetre (0.374015748031496 in) long. Overall the wings of Mongolbittacus have a narrow base section widening to approximately 3 millimetre (0.118110236220472 in) along most of the length, while the body was 6.5 millimetre (0.255905511811024 in) in length. Mongolbittacus is noted as unusual due to the completeness of the specimen. Most fossil Bittacidae are known and described from isolated fragments, most notably single wings.
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 Mongolbittacus daohugoensis. 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
Mongolbittacus daohugoensis 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 number "NIGPAS 133709". The specimen is composed of an almost complete female specimen which is preserved as a two dimensional 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 a well cemented calcareous
Calcareous
Calcareous is an adjective meaning mostly or partly composed of calcium carbonate, in other words, containing lime or being chalky. The term is used in a wide variety of scientific disciplines.-In zoology:...
grey siltstone
Siltstone
Siltstone is a sedimentary rock which has a grain size in the silt range, finer than sandstone and coarser than claystones.- Description :As its name implies, it is primarily composed of silt sized particles, defined as grains 1/16 - 1/256 mm or 4 to 8 on the Krumbein phi scale...
. The fossil was recovered from outcrops of the Jiulongshan Formation exposed near Daohugou by Di-Ying Huang. The type specimen is currently preserved in the geology collections housed in the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology
Chinese Academy of Sciences
The Chinese Academy of Sciences , formerly known as Academia Sinica, is the national academy for the natural sciences of the People's Republic of China. It is an institution of the State Council of China. It is headquartered in Beijing, with institutes all over the People's Republic of China...
, located in Nanjing
Nanjing
' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
, 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...
. Mongolbittacus was first studied by Julián F. Petrulevicius of the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle
Muséum national d'histoire naturelle
The Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle is the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, France.- History :The museum was formally founded on 10 June 1793, during the French Revolution...
in Paris, France, Di-Ying Huang of 2Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, and Dong Ren of 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:...
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...
. Their 2007 type description of the genus and species was published in the journal African Invertebrates
African Invertebrates
African Invertebrates is a peer-reviewed scientific journal that covers the taxonomy, systematics, biogeography, ecology, conservation, and palaeontology of Afrotropical invertebrates, whether terrestrial, freshwater, or marine...
. 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 Petrulevicius, Huang and Ren from a combination of "Mongol", a reference to the region of discovery; 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 Mongolbittacus 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...
daohugoensis is in reference type locality where the fossil preserved.
Mongolbittacus daohugoensis is one of six genera of fossil Bittacidae to be described from China. Along with Mongolbittacus, Jurahylobittacus
Jurahylobittacus
Jurahylobittacus is an extinct genus of hangingfly in the family Bittacidae and containing a single species Jurahylobittacus astictus...
and Formosibittacus
Formosibittacus
Formosibittacus is an extinct genus of hangingfly in the family Bittacidae and containing a single species Formosibittacus macularis...
are 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 fully complete with only the apical section of one fore-wingInsect 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...
missing, and small sections of the legs obscured. The fore and hind-wings of Mongolbittacus do not show any signs of 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....
unlike the genus Formosibittacus alongside which it lived. Also unlike Formosibittacus the wings of M. daohugoensis do not have any maculae. The fore-wings are 11.1 millimetre (0.437007874015748 in) long and the hind-wings are 9.5 millimetre (0.374015748031496 in) long. Overall the wings of Mongolbittacus have a narrow base section widening to approximately 3 millimetre (0.118110236220472 in) along most of the length, while the body was 6.5 millimetre (0.255905511811024 in) in length. Mongolbittacus is noted as unusual due to the completeness of the specimen. Most fossil Bittacidae are known and described from isolated fragments, most notably single wings.