Biology:Sialomorpha

From HandWiki
(Redirected from Biology:Sialomorphidae)
Short description: Extinct genus of enigmatic invertebrates

Sialomorpha
Temporal range: Tertiary 45–15 Ma
Sialomorpha dominicana.jpg
Artist's restoration
Scientific classification edit
Missing taxonomy template (fix): Incertae sedis/Panarthropoda
Family: Sialomorphidae
Poinar & Nelson, 2019
Genus: Sialomorpha
Poinar & Nelson, 2019
Species:
S. dominicana
Binomial name
Sialomorpha dominicana
Poinar & Nelson, 2019

Sialomorpha dominicana, also known as the mold pig, is a panarthropod genus of uncertain affinities discovered in 30-million year old Dominican amber by George Poinar at Oregon State University and Diane R. Nelson at East Tennessee University.[1][2] It was placed in a new genus and family (Sialomorphidae) unto itself, and appears to represent a new phylum. S. dominicana shares some resemblance to tardigrades and mites.[3] It is about 100 µm long and grew by molting its exoskeleton.[4] It was probably an omnivore, feeding on minute invertebrates and fungi, including mold.[1]

References

Wikidata ☰ {{{from}}} entry