Plumalexius
Encyclopedia
Plumalexius is a genus
of wasp
in the extinct monotypic
family Plumalexiidae, containing a single species, Plumalexius rasnitsyni. The species is known only from the Late Cretaceous
White Oaks Pit in Sayreville, New Jersey
, USA.
, specimen "AMNH no. NJ-695" and the paratype
, specimen "AMNH no. NJ-175". The specimens are both fairly complete male specimens which are preserved as inclusions in blocks of heavily fractured yellowish amber
. The fossils were recovered in 1995 from outcrops of Turonian
age strata in the White Oaks Pit, Middlesex County, New Jersey
by Paul Nascimbene and subsequently embedded in blocks of epoxy. The type specimens are currently preserved in the paleoentomology collections housed in the American Museum of Natural History
, located in Manhattan
, New York City
, USA. The two specimens were examined by Alexandr P. Rasnitsyn, who identified them as belonging to the chrysidoid
family Plumariidae. Plumalexius was first fully studied by Denis J. Brothers of the University of KwaZulu-Natal
, Pietermaritzburg
, South Africa. Brothers 2011 type description of the family, genus, and species was published online and in print in the journal Zookeys
. The generic
name was coined by Brothers from a combination of the family name "Plumariidae", in recognition of the original identification of the fossils, and the name "Alexandr" in honor of Alexandr Rasnitsyn. The family name Plumalexiidae is a derivation of genus name, while the etymology
of the specific epithet
rasnitsyni is a derivation of Alexandr Rasnitsyn's last name.
Based on the phylogenetic analysis that were run by Brothers Plumalexius is a basal genus in the evolution of the family Plumariidae, however the genus does not display the apomorphies that are key for Plumariidae. Due to the lack of shared apomorphies between Plumariidae and Plumalexius Brothers erected a separate family for Plumalexius.
and 1.17 millimetre (0.0460629921259843 in) hind-wings. The overall coloration of the males is a uniform yellowish to reddish tone, with the wing veins bring a slightly darker tone.
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 wasp
Wasp
The term wasp is typically defined as any insect of the order Hymenoptera and suborder Apocrita that is neither a bee nor an ant. Almost every pest insect species has at least one wasp species that preys upon it or parasitizes it, making wasps critically important in natural control of their...
in the extinct monotypic
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...
family Plumalexiidae, containing a single species, Plumalexius rasnitsyni. The species is known only from the Late Cretaceous
Late Cretaceous
The Late Cretaceous is the younger of two epochs into which the Cretaceous period is divided in the geologic timescale. Rock strata from this epoch form the Upper Cretaceous series...
White Oaks Pit in Sayreville, New Jersey
Sayreville, New Jersey
Sayreville is a borough located on the Raritan River, near Raritan Bay in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 42,704....
, USA.
History and classification
Plumalexius rasnitsyni is known from only two fossils, 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 "AMNH no. NJ-695" and the paratype
Paratype
Paratype is a technical term used in the scientific naming of species and other taxa of organisms. The exact meaning of the term paratype when it is used in zoology is not the same as the meaning when it is used in botany...
, specimen "AMNH no. NJ-175". The specimens are both fairly complete male specimens which are preserved as inclusions in blocks of heavily fractured yellowish 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 fossils were recovered in 1995 from outcrops of Turonian
Turonian
The Turonian is, in the ICS' geologic timescale, the second age in the Late Cretaceous epoch, or a stage in the Upper Cretaceous series. It spans the time between 93.5 ± 0.8 Ma and 89.3 ± 1 Ma...
age strata in the White Oaks Pit, Middlesex County, New Jersey
Middlesex County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 750,162 people, 265,815 households, and 190,855 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,422 people per square mile . There were 273,637 housing units at an average density of 884 per square mile...
by Paul Nascimbene and subsequently embedded in blocks of epoxy. The type specimens are currently preserved in the paleoentomology collections housed in the American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History , located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States, is one of the largest and most celebrated museums in the world...
, located in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, USA. The two specimens were examined by Alexandr P. Rasnitsyn, who identified them as belonging to the chrysidoid
Chrysidoidea
The superfamily Chrysidoidea is a very large cosmopolitan group of parasitoid or cleptoparasitic wasps, with three large, common families and four tiny, rare families. Most species are small , almost never exceeding 15 mm...
family Plumariidae. Plumalexius was first fully studied by Denis J. Brothers of the University of KwaZulu-Natal
University of KwaZulu-Natal
The University of KwaZulu-Natal or UKZN is a university with five campuses all located in the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. It was formed on 1 January 2004 after the merger between the University of Natal and the University of Durban-Westville.-History:-University of...
, Pietermaritzburg
Pietermaritzburg
Pietermaritzburg is the capital and second largest city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in 1838, and is currently governed by the Msunduzi Local Municipality. Its "purist" Zulu name is umGungundlovu, and this is the name used for the district municipality...
, South Africa. Brothers 2011 type description of the family, genus, and species was published online and in print in the journal Zookeys
ZooKeys
ZooKeys is a peer-reviewed open access academic journal for the field of zoology. It was established in 2008, and the editor-in-chief is Terry Erwin from the Smithsonian Institution...
. 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 Brothers from a combination of the family name "Plumariidae", in recognition of the original identification of the fossils, and the name "Alexandr" in honor of Alexandr Rasnitsyn. The family name Plumalexiidae is a derivation of genus name, while 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...
rasnitsyni is a derivation of Alexandr Rasnitsyn's last name.
Based on the phylogenetic analysis that were run by Brothers Plumalexius is a basal genus in the evolution of the family Plumariidae, however the genus does not display the apomorphies that are key for Plumariidae. Due to the lack of shared apomorphies between Plumariidae and Plumalexius Brothers erected a separate family for Plumalexius.
Description
The Plumalexius specimens are both well-preserved mostly complete adult males. The overall length as preserved for the larger male is 2.37 millimetre (0.0933070866141732 in), with approximately 1.47 millimetre (0.0578740157480315 in) fore-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...
and 1.17 millimetre (0.0460629921259843 in) hind-wings. The overall coloration of the males is a uniform yellowish to reddish tone, with the wing veins bring a slightly darker tone.