Nearly a million species of insects , living and extinct , have been scientifically described . These have been placed in yard of genus , but were grouped into just31 orders . Now , that number is 32 with the uncovering of two 100 - million - year - old specimen that are so different from anything we have ascertain before , they required the creation of a raw order .
“ This insect has a bit of feature that just do n’t match those of any other insect species that I know , ” suppose Emeritus Professor George Poinar of Oregon State University in astatement . “ I had never really seen anything like it . It is likely unique in the insect world , and after considerable treatment we decided it had to take its place in a new decree . ” The discovery has been published inCretaceous Research .
Strange as this pair look , they also seem queerly familiar , come along to resemble a hybridization between an ant and thealienspeople claim abducted them . “ While insects with triangular - shaped head are common today , the hypotenuse of the trigon is always located at the base of the head and tie to the neck , with the vertex at the apex of the head , ” the paper annotation .
This creature reversed that , experience the hypotenuse of the triangle at the top , with eyes at each corner . The hind legs , at twice the length of the abdomen , are also outstandingly prospicient .
The two specimen are from the same species , which Poinar namedAethiocarenus burmanicus . It currently represent everything we have intercourse of the new order Aethiocarenodea – the species name comes from the fact thatA.burmanicuswas found in the Hukawng Valley Burmese amber mines , which have become an unmatchedtreasure troveof Cretaceous fossil .
Like many other amber discoveries , the preservation ofA. burmanicusis remarkable , to the extent that Poinar identify glands on its long neck opening that he thinks released a chemical to ward off predatory animal . The distinctive eyes bulging from the corners of a triangular head would have given it an extraordinarily broad field of visual sensation , further enhanced by its capacity to get around its head at a large angle thanks to its tenuous neck .
The full body of one of the specimens . George Poinar
We know piffling aboutA. burmanicus’lifestyle , but Poinar suspect it was omnivorous and probably lived in the gaps in the bark of trees , feed on pinch and fungi .
“ The strangest thing about this insect is that the head calculate so much like the way alien are often portrayed , ” Poinarsaid . “ With its farseeing neck , big eyes and strange oblong head , I think it resembled E.T. I even made a Halloween mask that resemble the psyche of this dirt ball . But when I have on the mask when trick - or - treaters came by , it pock the little small fry so much I took it off . ”
