First identifiable Mesozoic harvestman (Opiliones: Dyspnoi) from Cretaceous Burmese amber

Date Published:

May 22

Abstract:

Two inclusions in a piece of Upper Cretaceous (Albian) Burmese amber from Myanmar are described as a harvestman (Arachnida: Opiliones), Halitherses grimaldii new genus and species. The first Mesozoic harvestman to be named can be referred to the suborder Dyspnoi for the following reasons: prosoma divided into two regions, the posterior formed by the fusion of the meso- and metapeltidium; palp lacking a terminal claw, with clavate setae, and tarsus considerably shorter than the tibia. The bilobed, anteriorly projecting ocular tubercle is reminiscent of that of ortholasmatine nemastomatids. The status of other Mesozoic fossils referred to Opiliones is briefly reviewed.

Notes:

Giribet, GonzaloDunlop, Jason AengComparative StudyEngland2005/07/19 09:00Proc Biol Sci. 2005 May 22;272(1567):1007-13.

Last updated on 12/23/2015