| Ampezzoa Temporal range: Late Triassic
| |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Genus: | †Ampezzoa |
| Species: | †A. triassica
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| Binomial name | |
| †Ampezzoa triassica Schmidt et al., 2012
| |
Ampezzoa triassica is an extinct species of gall mite described from the Carnian of northeastern Italy. It lived as a parasite of Cheirolepidiaceae trees. The only known specimen, preserved in amber, is 0.124 mm long. It resembles very much, in body shape and wax secretions, the contemporary gall mite Cymeda zealandica.[1] Along with Triasacarus fedelei and an unnamed dipteran, it is the oldest arthropod found enclosed in amber.[2]
Ampezzoa had a vagrant lifestyle on the surface of its host. It secreted waxy filaments, as a defense against predation and desiccation.[1]
- ^ a b Schmidt, A. R.; Jancke, S.; Lindquist, E. E.; Ragazzi, E.; Roghi, G.; Nascimbene, P. C.; Schmidt, K.; Wappler, T.; Grimaldi, D. A. (2012). "Arthropods in amber from the Triassic Period". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 109 (37): 14796–15501. doi:10.1073/pnas.1208464109. PMC 3443139. PMID 22927387.
- ^ "Oldest Occurrence of Arthropods Preserved in Amber: Fly, Mite Specimens Are 100 Million Years Older Than Previous Amber Inclusions". ScienceDaily. Retrieved 22 May 2013.