Protognathinus


Protognathinus is an extinct genus of stag beetle lived in Eocene, known from Messel pit in Germany.[1] This genus is known from only one species, P. spielbergi.

For beetle described as Protognathus, see Pseudognathaphanus.

Protognathinus
Temporal range:
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Lucanidae
Genus: †Protognathinus
Chalumeau et al. 2001
Species:
†P. spielbergi
Binomial name
†Protognathinus spielbergi
Chalumeau et al. 2001

Etymology

Its species name, spielbergi is named after an American film director Steven Spielberg, whose film Jurassic Park contributed to the revival of interest in the earth's ancient past.[1]

Description
Jewel beetle from Messel pit, other example with preserved color of the exoskeleton

Protognathinus is one of the largest known fossil beetle in superfamily Scarabaeoidea, 55 mm (2.2 inches) in total length. It is comparable to other large fossil beetles, such as Cheirotonus otai and Oryctoantiquus borealis.[2] Like other beetle fossils known from Messel Pit, Protognathinus retains color of the exoskeleton.[1]

The details of the classification lineage within the family of this genus are not well understood, and it is sometimes placed in Lampriminae and sometimes in Lucaninae. Morphological similarities with early Cretaceous species Litholamprima qizhihaoi described from Yixian Formation have been pointed out.[3]

See also

References
  1. Chalumeau, F.; Brochier, B. (2001). "Une forme fossile nouvelle de Chiasognathinae : Protognathinus spielbergi(Coleoptera, Lucanidae)" (PDF). Lambillionea. 101: 593–595.
  2. Ratcliffe, Brett C.; Smith, Dena M.; Erwin, Diane (2005). "Oryctoantiquus borealis, New Genus and Species from the Eocene of Oregon, U.S.A., the World's Oldest Fossil Dynastine and Largest Fossil Scarabaeid (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae)". The Coleopterists Bulletin. 59 (1): 127–135. doi:10.1649/0010-065X(2005)059[0127:OBNGAS]2.0.CO;2. ISSN 0010-065X.
  3. Jiang, Rixin; Cai, Chenyang; Engel, Michael S.; Li, Boyan; Song, Haitian; Chen, Xiangsheng (2022-05-01). "Litholamprima qizhihaoi sp. nov., a new stag beetle (Coleoptera: Lucanidae) from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation, China". Cretaceous Research: 105243. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2022.105243. ISSN 0195-6671.


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