Dinosaur term crab trapped in amber found

Archaeologists exploring a forest in Southeast Asia have unequivocally made a discovery that marks an important moment in their lives: 99 million years ago they discovered a crab body trapped in an amber piece. For years, dinosaurs were daily hunters. This is the first time a protected crab specimen has been found from this period.

Analysts point out that this is not the only record that has been broken by this surprisingly well-preserved “time traveler” because it is the most complete crab fossil ever found. Creditsara Adana 5 mm long, remarkably similar to modern crabs.

Other researchers have reported the discovery of a crab fossil in amber 15 million years ago in Mexico. However, this new model from Myanmar fills important gaps in our understanding of the evolution of crabs, including differences between different crab species. Details were published in the magazine Scientific progress.

“It’s simply breathtaking”

⁇ We are talking about exceptional protection, i.e. not even a hair is missing Says Javier Luke of Harvard University. ” Although it was very small, we were able to see many elegant details including the gills. It is simply breathtaking .

Although molecular estimates suggest that the appearance of non-marine crabs is about 130 million years old, no evidence has yet been found for the existence of these crabs beyond 75 million years. Since this fossil appears to be freshwater crab, the history of this group can be traced back to about 25 million years ago.

This invention represents a new genre, and the team was named Gratopsara. “Creta” refers to the Cretaceous period and “Apsara” to evoke the “spirit of clouds and water” in Southeast Asian mythology, to pay homage to local culture and tradition. Hence the full name c. அதனடா (Creditsara Adana)

Luke and his colleagues analyzed the sample with a standard microscope and X-ray microtomography. They then clearly identified the eight legs of the animal, including the eyes, antennae, pincers, mouth areas, fine hairs, and detached leg. “Probably because the crab was struggling to free itself from the resin of the tree that was occupying itself‘ like a time capsule ’,” says Luke.

Understand the evolution of crabs and similar organisms

Despite the small size of this specimen (2 millimeters wide in total), it may be a young one that has many points in common with current crabs. ” He has this tile [coquille supérieure] Round and highly developed walking legs, large eyes and a small tail under the body », He explains. ” All of these features are modern type .

However, according to Luke, this species has some distinctive differences that combine with its primitive appearance, including deep grooves in the shell, unlike the soft tops of today’s crabs. The shrimp or lobster breast is much shorter than the wide breast of the modern crab. ” This is not a missing link, but rather a distant relative of the current crabs », He explains.

Crab gills, unlike current land crabs, claim to have lived primarily in water, and its lung-like air pockets share the gills’ body space. ” This is a really confusing and exciting point “, Says Luke.” How can an aquatic animal enter the sap of a tree in a forest? It feeds the thinking .

⁇ One plausible explanation is that the crab was on a narrow land trip between two waters when it was trapped. Explain Luke. ⁇ Her misfortune, however, was the discovery of a ‘precious’ scientific treasure: the resin quickly integrates into the water – ‘like a super glue’, so it does not always form fossils.. It is sad for the animal, but it is the only possibility to know that it exists .

The research of Luke and his colleagues aims to understand how some ancient creatures evolved into crabs and to understand their evolution and diversity over time to the modern forms we see today. ” Every fossil we find challenges our preconceptions about when and where many creatures originated, which often motivates us to go back in time.S ”, Luke concludes.

proof’s: Scientific progress & Harvard University