Giant Water Bug
Insect Order Hemiptera, Family Belostomatidae
Geological Time:Lower Cretaceous, Late Aptian-Cenomanian (108-92 million years ago)
Size (25.4 mm = 1 inch): Insect fossil is 45 mm by 20 mm (plus legs); Matrix: 125 mm by 122 mm.
Fossil Site: Crato Formation, Nova Olinda Member, Ceara, Brazil
Fossil Code: BI74
Price: $210.00 - sold
 Description:
The Araripe Basin of Brazil is home to a fantastic array of exquisitely-detailed
Early Cretaceous fossils, some of which have been preserved in
three dimensions. While the entire formation has until the last
decade or so been termed the Santana Formation, David Martill has
separated out the slightly older insect-bearing strata as the Nova
Olinda Member of the Crato Formation. Quarrying operations for
the purposes of obtaining paving stones exposes the remarkable
insect fauna in much the same way that quarrying for lithographic
limestone in Solnhofen has afforded a panoply of wonderfully-preserved
Jurassic fossils in Germany. In addition to the many orders of
insects, spiders, scorpions, decapod crustaceans, and many plants
have been found. Interestingly, to date no pterosaurs or terrestrial
vertebrates have been found, in stark contrast to the overlying
Santana Formation deposits. This fine example shows a large example
of a member of the Belostomatidae, or giant water bugs. This Family
of large predatory insects has a good representation in the fossil
record of the region. Little material from this treasure trove
ever becomes available, and this is the second example I have been
able to secure. |
