In a breakthrough discovery, scientists have unearthed the world’s oldest known fossil of a singing cicada, marking a remarkable chapter in the history of insect communication. Found in the renowned Messel Pit of Germany, this ancient fossil reveals that cicadas were making music during the Eocene epoch, a whopping 47 million years ago.
Unveiling a New Cicada Species
Renowned biological paleontologist Sonja Wedmann, along with her team, has identified the fossil as belonging to a new species known as Eoplatypleura messelensis. This significant find not only unveils the existence of singing cicadas much earlier than previously thought but also reshapes our understanding of evolutionary timelines. According to Science News, the discovery extends the known period when cicadas began their melodious calls by approximately 17 million years.
An Examination of Ancient Echoes
At the heart of this revelation are two fossilized cicadas from the Eocene, uniquely preserved within the delicate layers of oil shale. Their well-detailed wings, with a span of 68.2 millimeters, have offered glimpses of their lineage, placing them in the Platypleurini tribe—a group previously with no known fossil record until now.
A Global Spread: Displacing Assumptions
The fossil’s location in Germany challenges prior beliefs that cicadas colonized Eurasia after a tectonic shift 30-25 million years ago. Surprisingly, it hints that these creatures have been serenading Europe for much longer, settling in warm climates akin to those that house modern Platypleurini cicadas in Asia and Africa today.
Evolutionary Significance
Cicadas are renowned for their distinctive song, a noisy spectacle that outshines most of the insect kingdom. Daniel Pauvik, an ecologist, emphasizes the fossil’s importance in revealing how ancient cicada species laid the groundwork for the diverse family of modern cicadas and possibly impacted other life forms during the Eocene epoch.
This monumental discovery not only enriches our understanding of cicada evolution but also highlights the epoch as a ‘dawn’ for many animal groups that inhabit our planet today. From insects to birds and reptiles, the Eocene epochs tell fascinating tales of life’s ancient symphony.
Join us next time as we delve into more captivating stories from the realm of paleontology and explore discoveries that transform our view of life’s intricate past.