Nematode (Nematoda: Mermithidae) and hairworm (Nematomorpha: Chordodidae) parasites in Early Cretaceous amber.
The present report describes a mermithid nematode (Nematoda: Mermithidae) and a gordiid hairworm (Nematomorpha: Chordodidae) from Early Cretaceous Burmese amber dated at 100-110 million years. The mermithid, Cretacimermis protus sp. n., is emerging from a biting midge (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) while the hairworm, Cretachordodes burmitis, gen. n., sp. n. had already emerged from its host. These rare specimens represent the first fossil mermithid parasite of a ceratopogonid midge and second oldest described nematode and the earliest known and only Mesozoic fossil of the phylum Nematomorpha. A list of previously described fossil mermithids is included.
Poinar
George
G
Department of Zoology, Oregon state University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA. poinarg@science.oregonstate.edu <poinarg@science.oregonstate.edu>
Buckley
Ron
R
D018647:Amber; D000818:Animals; D002519:Ceratopogonidae / Q000166:cytology / Q000469:parasitology*; D005580:Fossils; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D008632:Mermithoidea / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology
D018647:Amber