Ancient Baby Bug With Thorns Shield

A 3D reconstruction of the insect
nymph Anebos phrixos. (Picture from:
http://www.livescience.com/)

Not just a gigantic dinosaur who seized the attention of scientists. Bugs-sized organisms were also invited wondering palaeontologists, what form they are in the past.

Intrigued by the ancient forms of bug, a group of researchers from the University of Manchester, UK, reconstruct body of two babies bugs or nymphs aged 300 million years. They scan rare fossils with X-rays to obtain a three-dimensional image of the baby bugs early.

The baby was not given early tick full identity. The researchers also do not match with the adult version. But, they claim the three-dimensional image of the baby bugs produced is the most complete of these animals Paleozoic era.

"Both insects larger than 2 centimeters. Their fossils are thought to originate from the late Carboniferous period, still part of the Paleozoic era," said Russell Garwood, lead investigator from the University of Manchester, Monday, October 1, 2012.

The roach-like nymph described
in the study. (Picture from:
http://www.livescience.com/)

The results of reconstruction of ancient fossils of baby ticks found in the Montceau-les-Mines, France, was published online in the journal PLoS ONE edition of September 25, 2012.

One baby louse called Anebos phrixos, referring to the Greek word meaning young insect with a body covered with spines.

Unlike the baby louse, scientists also reconstruct the second baby bug form is more like a modern cockroaches with a flat body. Three-dimensional reconstruction of not only give researchers detailed images of body shape both the baby fleas, but also design their mouths. "The mouth holds clues about their food," said Garwood.

He and his colleagues, for example, to ensure baby number two similar bugs cockroach is omnivorous. The lack of evidence of specialization form the jaw and other mouth parts into the main clue that conclusion. "Just like a baby modern forest cockroaches. They can eat decaying matter on the forest floor," said Garwood again. *** [LIVESCIENCE | MAHARDIKA SATRIA HADI | KORAN TEMPO 4014]
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