| A minute fossil phoretic mite recovered by phase-contrast X-ray computed tomography. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 22072283 Owner: NLM Status: Publisher |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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High-resolution phase-contrast X-ray computed tomography (CT) reveals the phoretic deutonymph of a fossil astigmatid mite (Acariformes: Astigmata) attached to a spider's carapace (Araneae: Dysderidae) in Eocene (44-49 Myr ago) Baltic amber. Details of appendages and a sucker plate were resolved, and the resulting three-dimensional model demonstrates the potential of tomography to recover morphological characters of systematic significance from even the tiniest amber inclusions without the need for a synchrotron. Astigmatids have an extremely sparse palaeontological record. We confirm one of the few convincing fossils, potentially the oldest record of Histiostomatidae. At 176 µm long, we believe this to be the smallest arthropod in amber to be CT-scanned as a complete body fossil, extending the boundaries for what can be recovered using this technique. We also demonstrate a minimum age for the evolution of phoretic behaviour among their deutonymphs, an ecological trait used by extant species to disperse into favourable environments. The occurrence of the fossil on a spider is noteworthy, as modern histiostomatids tend to favour other arthropods as carriers. |
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Authors:
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Jason A Dunlop; Stefan Wirth; David Penney; Andrew McNeil; Robert S Bradley; Philip J Withers; Richard F Preziosi |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: JOURNAL ARTICLE Date: 2011-11-9 |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Biology letters Volume: - ISSN: 1744-957X ISO Abbreviation: - Publication Date: 2011 Nov |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2011-11-10 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 101247722 Medline TA: Biol Lett Country: - |
Other Details:
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Languages: ENG Pagination: - Citation Subset: - |
Affiliation:
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Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Research on Evolution and Biodiversity, Humboldt University Berlin, , 10115 Berlin, Germany. |
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From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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