A group of paleontologists identified in northern China the first scorpion fossil of the Mesozoic found in the country, with an estimated seniority in 125 million years.
The specimen was baptized as Jeholia Longchengi, or Longcheng’s scorpion in Jehol’s biota, and provides new information about biodiversity and ecological interactions of the early cretaceous, reported the Global Times official newspaper.
The fossil was discovered in Chifeng, in the Interior Mongolia region (North), and is currently preserved and exhibited at the Fossil Valley Museum in the province of Liaoning (Northeast).
This is the first Mesozoic scorpion identified in China, a finding that extends the paleontological record of these arachnids in the region.
Before this discovery, only three scorpion fossils had been found in China, which highlights the importance of this new finding.
Huang Diying, professor at the Institute of Geology and Paleontology of Nanjing, of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, told the Global Times that “the scorpion fossils are not as numerous as people could imagine.”
The scorpion fossil
With an approximate length of 10 centimeters, Longcheng’s scorpion presents thin pedipalpos, long legs and a elongated poisonous sting.
His morphology indicates that he was an active predator in Jehol’s biota, an early cretaceous ecosystem known for its exceptional dinosaurs with feathers, primitive mammals and other vertebrates.
“Longcheng’s scorpion in Jehol’s biota was a natural predator of small animals,” said Huang, who added that this fossil “is a ‘key’ that opens the door to the ancient world.”
The specimen, preserved in gray-yellow lutita, maintains much of its intact structure, allowing a detailed analysis of its evolutionary adaptations.
Scientists highlight that their finding helps reconstruct the ecological history of Mesozoic and provides clues about the evolution of prehistoric scorpions.
“The study of these fossils allows us to know better the biological interactions of the past,” Huang concluded.
With EFE information.
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