Texas fossil reveals early insects kept aquatic limbs during move onto land
Researchers have discovered a new stem-group insect species, Chosha praecursor, in Texas, dating back 324 million years. The findings suggest that early insects maintained aquatic limbs during their transition to land, indicating a prolonged amphibious evolutionary phase.
Why it matters
This discovery fills a significant gap in the evolutionary history of insects and provides new insights into how life adapted to terrestrial environments.
by Zhang Nannan, Chinese Academy of Sciences
edited by Sadie Harley , reviewed by Robert Egan
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:
Add as preferred source Comparative anatomical details of stem-insects and extant apterygote insects. Credit: NIGPAS The formation of complex terrestrial ecosystems was a significant innovation in the evolutionary history of life on Earth. This event signified the expansion of life beyond marine environments and marked the beginning of a new phase in the diversification of terrestrial biota.
As the most species-rich animal group on our planet, insects played an important role in this evolutionary transition to land. However, significant gaps in the relevant research have long existed.
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