Fossil Palaeopsychops timmi holotype # SR 02-25-01 "Boot Hill",Tom Thumb Tuff Member, Klondike Mountain Formation, Republic, Ferry County, Washington, USA Size: 37mm long
Neuroptera, Hemerobiiformia, Ithonioidea, Polystoechotidae, †Palaeopsychops, P. timmi
The holotype, and only, specimen of the extinct species Palaeopsychops timmi from the fossil outcrops in Republic, Ferry County Washington. This species is 49.5 +/-.05 million years old placing it in the late Ypresian, of the Eocene. This specimen is an incomplete left fore wing, missing the apex, and thus gender is not identifiable. based on specimens of closely related species this wing may have reached 44mm long and 20 mm wide.
The area it this time was dominated by flora and fauna which are the early precursors of the Eastern US and Eastern Asian hardwood forests, while possessing elements of the current conifer forests still present in the region. The environment which this specimen lived in was upland subtropical/temperate forests surrounding a lake/string of lakes which were the southernmost in a string of lakes which extended 1000km into Central British Columbia.
The family Polystoechotidae is now found only in North, Central and South America and the genus Palaeopsychops is entirely extinct. The family contains four modern species in three genera.
Contributed by Karl Volkman on 5 September, 2009 - 11:36pm Last updated 6 September, 2009 - 12:35pm |