Mesonepa minor
Insect Order Hemiptera, Family Belonstomatidae
Geological Time: Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian Stage
Size (25.4 mm = 1 inch): Fossil is 40 mm in overall length (including arms) on a 175 mm by 180 mm matrix
Fossil Site: Solnhofen Limstone, Eichstatt, Germany
Code: GF107
Price: $335.00
 Description:
This is a fine example of a water bug from the lithographic limestone
deposits of Eichstatt, Germany, known as Mesonepa minor. These
150 million year old deposits are famous for their exceptionally
well-preserved organisms, the most famous of which are the handful
of specimens of the ancient bird Archaeopteryx. The genus derives
its name from its similarity to the extant genus Nepa. Both are
members of the Belonostomatidae, or Giant Water Bugs. They are
predatory aquatic insects that use their raptorial forelimbs like
the ones readily seen here to seize their prey. One extant genus
from South America is the largest living bug at lengths up to 12
cm. |
