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Type: Article
Published: 2020-05-04
Page range: 405–414
Abstract views: 123
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The first described fossil species of Litargus Erichson (Coleoptera: Mycetophagidae) from Eocene Baltic amber examined with X-ray microtomography, and new records of Crowsonium succinium Abdullah, 1964

Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Nahimovskiy prospekt 36, Moscow, 117997, Russia. Kaliningrad Regional Amber Museum, Marshal Vasilevskii Square 1, Kaliningrad, 236016, Russia.
Andrzej Myrcha Nature Center, University of Białystok, ul. Ciołkowskiego 1J, 15-245 Białystok, Poland.
Institute of Life Sciences and Technologies, Daugavpils University, Vienîbas 13, Daugavpils, LV-5401, Latvia.
Institute of Life Sciences and Technologies, Daugavpils University, Vienîbas 13, Daugavpils, LV-5401, Latvia.
Coleoptera palaeontology new species Cenozoic Paleogene fossil resin X-ray micro-CT

Abstract

A new species of Mycetophagidae belonging to the genus Litargus, namely L. (Litargosomus) dantiscensis Alekseev, Kupryjanowicz et Bukejs sp. nov., is described and figured from Eocene Baltic amber using X-ray micro-computed tomography (μCT). Three additional specimens of a mycetophagid beetle that is rather common in Baltic amber, Crowsonium succinium Abdullah, are also reported. Prototoma striata Heer, which was originally placed in Mycetophagidae, is discussed based on its original description and illustration: it is proposed that the position incertae sedis within Coleoptera be given to this Early Jurassic fossil. Consequently, the records of Mycetophagidae from Eocene European amber should be considered the earliest occurrence of the family known to date.

 

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