Rhyniella praecursor

Taxobox
name = "Rhyniella praecursor"
status = fossil
fossil_range = Early Devonian


image_width = 250px
image_caption = "Rhyniella praecursor"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
subphylum = Hexapoda
classis = Entognatha (disputed)
subclassis = Collembola
genus = "Rhyniella"
genus_authority =
species = "R. praecursor"
binomial = "Rhyniella praecursor"
binomial_authority = Hirst & Maulik, 1926
synonyms =

"Rhyniella praecursor" is a fossil springtail from the Rhynie chert, which was for some time believed to be the only hexapod from the Early Devonian (c. 400 million years ago). It is a very primitive member of the Collembola, far too basal to be classified in any of the living orders of springtails.

Its remains were discovered in 1919. Reconstructed from the bits and pieces, "R. praecursor" was described in 1926, and at first believed to be a larval insect. Mouthparts initially assigned to "R. praecursor" were described as "Rhyniognatha hirsti" in 1928.

In 2004, "Rhyniognatha hirsti" was found to be an insect, the oldest known to date. The debate and uncertainties that for long surrounded these primitive hexapods shows that by 400 million years ago, springtail and insect ancestors were still so much alike to be easily confused.

References

* University of Kansas Natural History Museum: [http://www.nhm.ku.edu/ksem/Paleoent/rhyniognatha.html Rhyniognatha]