Strudiella devonica is a species of extinct arthropod from the Devonian, originally described as the first complete Late Devonian terrestrial insect. It was recovered in the Strud (Gesves, Belgium) environment from the Bois des Mouches Formation, Upper Famennian. It had unspecialized, 'orthopteroid', mouthparts, indicating an omnivorous diet.

This discovery reduces a previous gap of 45 million years in the evolutionary history of insects, part of the arthropod gap (the 'gap' still occurs in the early Carboniferous, coinciding and extending past the Romer's gap for tetrapods, which may have been caused by low oxygen levels in the atmosphere). Body segments, legs and antennae are visible; however, genitalia were not preserved. The specimen has no wings, but it may be a juvenile.

Strudiella

Later study shows extra legs, and based on its poor state of preservation, its interpretation as an insect is unwarranted.

Strudiella

See also

Evolution of insects

References

External links

Prehistoric insect genera

Insects described in 2012

Fossil taxa described in 2012

Late Devonian animals

Famennian life

Fossils of Belgium

Evolution of insects

Taxa named by Michael S. Engel

Controversial taxa

Strudiella