A Cretaceous mite with ultra-long setae possibly reveals the early survival strategy of Chyzeriidae
Chyzeriidae Womersley, 1954, is a family of trombidiform mites characterized by unique body structures and habits, though it has not been well studied. A new genus and species, Cretachyzeria macroseta gen. et sp. nov., in the subfamily Pteridopinae of Chyzeriidae, found in Cretaceous amber in Myanma...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Pensoft Publishers
2025-08-01
|
| Series: | Fossil Record |
| Online Access: | https://fr.pensoft.net/article/158587/download/pdf/ |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849396714126966784 |
|---|---|
| author | Yu Liu Qing-Hai Fan Dong Ren |
| author_facet | Yu Liu Qing-Hai Fan Dong Ren |
| author_sort | Yu Liu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Chyzeriidae Womersley, 1954, is a family of trombidiform mites characterized by unique body structures and habits, though it has not been well studied. A new genus and species, Cretachyzeria macroseta gen. et sp. nov., in the subfamily Pteridopinae of Chyzeriidae, found in Cretaceous amber in Myanmar, provides the first formally described fossil species in this family. A phylogenetic study of Chyzeriidae based on postlarval morphology supported the morphological classification. The dorsal setae of Cretachyzeria macroseta gen. et sp. nov. are extremely long and dense, resembling the quills of a porcupine. This unusual morphological structure likely served specific biological functions. We hypothesize that these long setae functioned as a specialized defense, protecting the fragile abdomen and aiding in predator deterrence in its complex environment. Given the geological time frame of this fossil mite and the wide distribution of extant Chyzeriidae, we propose that the family existed prior to the breakup of Pangaea. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-01d40b439b14458381266f7a54d42e69 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2193-0074 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Pensoft Publishers |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Fossil Record |
| spelling | doaj-art-01d40b439b14458381266f7a54d42e692025-08-20T03:39:15ZengPensoft PublishersFossil Record2193-00742025-08-0128224124810.3897/fr.28.158587158587A Cretaceous mite with ultra-long setae possibly reveals the early survival strategy of ChyzeriidaeYu Liu0Qing-Hai Fan1Dong Ren2Capital Normal UniversityPlant Health & Environment Laboratory, Ministry for Primary IndustriesCapital Normal UniversityChyzeriidae Womersley, 1954, is a family of trombidiform mites characterized by unique body structures and habits, though it has not been well studied. A new genus and species, Cretachyzeria macroseta gen. et sp. nov., in the subfamily Pteridopinae of Chyzeriidae, found in Cretaceous amber in Myanmar, provides the first formally described fossil species in this family. A phylogenetic study of Chyzeriidae based on postlarval morphology supported the morphological classification. The dorsal setae of Cretachyzeria macroseta gen. et sp. nov. are extremely long and dense, resembling the quills of a porcupine. This unusual morphological structure likely served specific biological functions. We hypothesize that these long setae functioned as a specialized defense, protecting the fragile abdomen and aiding in predator deterrence in its complex environment. Given the geological time frame of this fossil mite and the wide distribution of extant Chyzeriidae, we propose that the family existed prior to the breakup of Pangaea.https://fr.pensoft.net/article/158587/download/pdf/ |
| spellingShingle | Yu Liu Qing-Hai Fan Dong Ren A Cretaceous mite with ultra-long setae possibly reveals the early survival strategy of Chyzeriidae Fossil Record |
| title | A Cretaceous mite with ultra-long setae possibly reveals the early survival strategy of Chyzeriidae |
| title_full | A Cretaceous mite with ultra-long setae possibly reveals the early survival strategy of Chyzeriidae |
| title_fullStr | A Cretaceous mite with ultra-long setae possibly reveals the early survival strategy of Chyzeriidae |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Cretaceous mite with ultra-long setae possibly reveals the early survival strategy of Chyzeriidae |
| title_short | A Cretaceous mite with ultra-long setae possibly reveals the early survival strategy of Chyzeriidae |
| title_sort | cretaceous mite with ultra long setae possibly reveals the early survival strategy of chyzeriidae |
| url | https://fr.pensoft.net/article/158587/download/pdf/ |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yuliu acretaceousmitewithultralongsetaepossiblyrevealstheearlysurvivalstrategyofchyzeriidae AT qinghaifan acretaceousmitewithultralongsetaepossiblyrevealstheearlysurvivalstrategyofchyzeriidae AT dongren acretaceousmitewithultralongsetaepossiblyrevealstheearlysurvivalstrategyofchyzeriidae AT yuliu cretaceousmitewithultralongsetaepossiblyrevealstheearlysurvivalstrategyofchyzeriidae AT qinghaifan cretaceousmitewithultralongsetaepossiblyrevealstheearlysurvivalstrategyofchyzeriidae AT dongren cretaceousmitewithultralongsetaepossiblyrevealstheearlysurvivalstrategyofchyzeriidae |