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| Rhyniella praecursor Fossil range: Early Devonian |
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Fossil
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| Rhyniella praecursor Hirst & Maulik, 1926 |
Rhyniella praecursor is a fossil springtail from the Rhynie chert, which was for some time believed to be the only hexapod from the Early Devonian (c. 400 million years ago). It is a very primitive member of the Collembola, far too basal to be classified in any of the living orders of springtails.
Its remains were discovered in 1919. Reconstructed from the bits and pieces, R. praecursor was described in 1926, and at first believed to be a larval insect. Mouthparts initially assigned to R. praecursor were described as Rhyniognatha hirsti in 1928.
In 2004, Rhyniognatha hirsti was found to be an insect, the oldest known to date. The debate and uncertainties that for long surrounded these primitive hexapods shows that by 400 million years ago, springtail and insect ancestors were still so much alike to be easily confused.
References
- University of Kansas Natural History Museum: Rhyniognatha
