Specialized bark-gnawing beetles reveal phragmotic defence and subcortical ecology in the Cretaceous
The result's identifiers
Result code in IS VaVaI
<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00094862%3A_____%2F25%3A10001361" target="_blank" >RIV/00094862:_____/25:10001361 - isvavai.cz</a>
Result on the web
<a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2025.1004" target="_blank" >https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2025.1004</a>
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2025.1004" target="_blank" >10.1098/rspb.2025.1004</a>
Alternative languages
Result language
angličtina
Original language name
Specialized bark-gnawing beetles reveal phragmotic defence and subcortical ecology in the Cretaceous
Original language description
Ecological interactions are fundamental to understanding species' trophic relationships and the evolution of ecosystem functions. However, the fossil record seldom captures these intricate dynamics, as most fossils preserve individual organisms rather than the interactions that shaped ancient ecosystems. Here, we describe a new genus of bark-gnawing beetles (Trogossitidae), Rutrizoma gen. nov., from mid-Cretaceous amber in northern Myanmar. This fossil genus reveals a rare combination of predatory and antipredatory adaptations, shedding light on the ecological complexity of Mesozoic forest ecosystems. Rutrizoma has specialized morphological features, such as shortened elytra and unidentate mandibles, suggesting an active predatory lifestyle in narrow wood galleries. Interestingly, some morphological traits of Rutrizoma mirror those of its potential prey, particularly bostrichid beetles, from the same amber deposit. One such trait is its specialized abdominal declivity,which probably functioned as a protective shield against predators and competitors, representing marked convergence with the elytral declivity of other subcortical beetles, such as bark and ambrosia beetles (Scolytinae and Platypodinae) and Bostrichidae. The presence of phoretic mites associated with Rutrizoma, along with co-preserved bostrichid prey, underscores the complex community dynamics beneath Cretaceous tree bark. This finding reveals a subcortical ecosystem that parallels modern ecological interactions.
Czech name
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Czech description
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Classification
Type
J<sub>imp</sub> - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database
CEP classification
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OECD FORD branch
10618 - Ecology
Result continuities
Project
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Continuities
V - Vyzkumna aktivita podporovana z jinych verejnych zdroju
Others
Publication year
2025
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data specific for result type
Name of the periodical
Proceedings of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences
ISSN
0962-8452
e-ISSN
1471-2954
Volume of the periodical
292
Issue of the periodical within the volume
2048
Country of publishing house
GB - UNITED KINGDOM
Number of pages
12
Pages from-to
1-12
UT code for WoS article
001505532400007
EID of the result in the Scopus database
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