The group of international biologists discovered in Germany, well -preserved fossils of Cicada MesselesisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisisiSisisisisisisisiSisis, an estimated age of about 47 million years. The research was published in the scientific journal (Scirep).
Fossils dug Messel in the city of Darmstadt in his career.
The fossil insect has been preserved almost perfectly – the length of the body is 26.5 mm and wingspan reaches 68.2 mm. Pay special attention is the typical model on the wings, similar to the drawings of modern cicads of the platypus group.
According to researchers, such a color can perform camouflage function in subtropical forests covering this area in the Eocene era.
Today, only 44 fossil detection of cicadas in the Kainozoi period is known. The new Cycada from Messel is recognized as the oldest representative of the truly modern cicada in Eurasia.
This finding will allow scientists to better understand the formation of insect biodiversity and the evolution of the distant past ecosystems.