Jewel beetle, Psiloptera Courtesy of Senckenberg, Frankfurt (Germany)
Posted on 08/24/2009 3:02:25 PM PDT by null and void
In the annual digs the Senckenberg Research Institute carries out in the Messel Pit, an average of 3,000 fossil remains are recovered from the shale at this UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. Some particularly well-preserved fossils discovered in 2007 and 2008 were recently exhibited.
The world-famous primeval horse browsed at the shores of Lake Messel in the warm, wet climate prevailing at that time (average annual temperature, 25°C). Around the lake, which emerged in a volcanic crater and was surrounded back then by dense primeval forest, early ungulates and rodents lived as well: the ancestors of today’s birds flew over the cloudy water; insects buzzed through the air; and cold-blooded reptiles basked lazily in the sun. 47 million years ago, Messel was located at the present latitude of Siciliy.
Bulldog of the lizard world A reptile find about 80 centimeters long has been identified as an early representative of the beaded lizards and Gila monsters (Helodermatidae). This family, known to have existed since the Cretaceous, is found today in the southwest of the USA and Central America. These lizards are renowned not only for a curious combination of strength, tenacity and deliberateness, but also for being venomous. Although it is primitive in many ways, the skeleton found in Messel already shows incipient canals in its teeth which lead us to believe that this species was already producing venom.
“The warm climate of the Eocene may have allowed this lineage to migrate along high-latitude routes to Europe. From studies of the limbs and chemical analyses of the bones, we hope to learn more about evolutionary rates and the biology of primitive members of this unique group,” explains Dr. Krister Smith, a reptile expert from the USA who developed a special interest in the pink-spotted descendants of these primeval-looking animals whilst still a schoolboy.
Beautiful beetles A metallically gleaming jewel beetle belonging to the family Buprestidae and the genus Psiloptera still shows off its beautiful coloration, even after 47 million years. The living representatives of the genus can now only be found in the Tropics.
Jewel beetle, Psiloptera Courtesy of Senckenberg, Frankfurt (Germany)
“The exquisite coloration is created by refraction at different layers of the chitin carapace,” explains Dr. Sonja Wedmann.
Weaver ants Insect finds of the last two years include a queen weaver ant that fell into the former Messel Lake during her nuptial flight and drowned there. The living representatives of the Oecophylla genus occur today in the Tropics of Africa and Southeast Asia. Their nests are made of leaves which the female workers weave together with silk from their larvae.
“Since we have not yet found any nests in Messel, it has not yet been possible to ascertain whether the weaver ants that lived 47 million years ago could already do that,” says Dr. Sonja Wedmann.
Leafcutter bees The special fossil evidence of also insects includes the discovery of a completely preserved leaf-cutting bee. However, morphological features show that the species found in Messel is not a true member of the leaf-cutter group. In contrast to “real” leafcutter bees, Friccomelissa schopowi apparently built its nest without using plant discs.
Rodent in a fur coat, Masillamys Courtesy of Senckenberg, Frankfurt (Germany)
Rodent in a fur coat A new find of a Masillamys has been recovered nearly whole and allows identification of the fossilised remains of its stomach contents. The extremely well-preserved outlines of the body reveal a shadow on the skin that leads us to the conclusion that this ancient rodent had a thick, short-haired coat of fur.
“The key feature, the single pair of morphologically specialised chisel-shaped incisors, allowsthe ‘real’ rodent to be instantly recognised,” explains scientist Dr. Thomas Lehmann, who is working on this animal.
This individual, which was discovered just before the end of the digging season in September 2007, shows the short legs typical of the genus that lead one to assume that the rodent once lived on the floor of the primeval forest surrounding Messel.
Archaic stars As has happened before, the new find of a Leptictidium auderiense in September 2008 created a certain amount of excitement. Thanks to the BBC documentary “Walking with Beasts,” this archaic mammal became a star among the Messel fossils. Last year’s new find is the first juvenile animal of this genus, which died out at the end of the Eocene. In contrast to its still-primitive teeth, Leptictidium had a highly specialised locomotor system. Its extraordinarily long tail with 40 vertebrae, long back legs and reduced front ones point to a bipedal gait.
“However, since features of the lumbar vertebrae might also indicate a hopping gait, we are looking forward to new findings from the fossil discovered in 2008,” explains Thomas Lehmann; he hopes that a new imaging technique will reveal details that cannot yet be discerned.
Clambering ungulates The new finds also include a Kopidodon macrognathus. Distinct shadows show the long tail to have been bushy, which is typical of the species. The marked bony crest on its skull and the developing permanent tooth in the area of the right canine of the upper jaw indicate that it is an infant male. Although the long canines suggest a predator, the molars indicate that this was a plant-eating ungulate.
“We do not yet know enough about the animal’s lifestyle. Some features of the locomotor system, such as the very versatile shoulder, elbow and hip joints as well as the gripping ability of the front limbs indicate a tree-dwelling fruit-eater,” explains Thomas Lehmann.
It is an open question whether this species lived in trees or simply moved among the branches. This mammal expert is awaiting further findings from the well-preserved stomach contents of the new find. He remarks that seeds, which are quite often found in the Messel shales, might even put them on the track of the Kopidodon’s favourite fruit.
Missing pieces falling into place Among the total of 6,773 finds that were recovered from the digs in the Messel Pit in 2007 and 2008, there were 1,929 fossilised remains of vertebrates, 1,403 insects and 3,441 plant remains. The information contained in the finds providesthe scientists of the Senckenberg Research Institute data on the occurrence of individual species, their bodily structures and lifestyles, and the evolutionary history of animal groups. In addition, the research results help to reconstruct the Eocene environment and give clues to the relationship between climate and biodiversity.
Do I REALLY need a sarcasm tag???
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;') Thanks null and void. |
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Gaping gila monsters, buzzing insects, clambering ungulates. Sounds like a typical Sat nite singles bar...
That’s a hole ‘nother story...
.....Well, this explains where the yellow spotted lizards at Camp Dry Lake came from......
I don’t think so. I saw nothing at all in the article indicating the presence of onions.
No, you don't need a sarcasm tag. But you do need to explain what the difference would be if a recognizable "human" was found there instead of a recognizable gila monster and why. My understanding of what Gould stated is that gila monster = human in evolutionary terms. (What I am getting at is that any set of fossils can be waved away by a Darwinist.)
Too true that. Any fossil that fits in a gap never fills the gap, it merely creates two new gaps on either side, doesn’t it?
Kinda like the platypus, "duck" and beaver And it does fit in that gap.
Also, you do know that the "duck bill" isn't a bill, it's a soft fleshy features shaped like a bill, with jaw bones in it. It's a mouth, and it is exquisitely adapted to probing leaf litter for worms and other such soft prey.
You do know that, don't you?
A man who deliberately warps the truth to tell lies is the foulest creature on earth, in my opinion.
And a man who feels the need to lie to protect his God?
He's no better than a muslim.
I don't care what it is, the relationship among the animals is the same. Do you deny that? And of course, I made no mention of the bill and put quotes around the word "duck" in anticipation of your red herring. I chose those animals for a reason, and you stepped in it.
I don’t believe meaningful conversation with you is possible.
Good day.
Really? That comment from the same person that starts the thread with this ...Since these are all recognizable critters, that must disprove evolution, right????
I made my point. Good day.
P.S. The human mind is capable of organizing disparate objects into perceived patterns.
And I made my point as well.
Let’s both go off convinced that we each won, shall we?
I didn’t post to win. I posted to make a point. I made it and you continue to demonstrate it.
:-))
LOL!
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