In a parasitic first, a Baltic amber specimen has revealed that millions of years ago tiny worms known as nematodes were living inside of and feeding on the outer protective layer of pseudoscorpions. Credit: George Poinar Jr.
A new study uncovers ancient nematodes that fed on pseudoscorpions, captured in Baltic amber fossils.
The early bird gets the worm, but as fossil research by an Oregon State University scientist demonstrates, the early worm gets the arachnid. This intriguing finding comes from a study of a Baltic amber specimen which revealed that millions of years ago, tiny worms known as nematodes were living inside of and feeding on the outer protective layer of pseudoscorpions.
“This is very strange,” remarked George Poinar Jr., an expert in analyzing life forms preserved in amber and a courtesy faculty in the OSU College of Science. “No other invertebrate-associated nematodes are known to have this specific habit.” These findings were detailed in the journal Historical Biology.
In a parasitic first, a Baltic amber specimen has revealed that millions of years ago tiny worms known as nematodes were living inside of and feeding on the outer protective layer of pseudoscorpions. Credit: George Poinar Jr.
Pseudoscorpions and Nematodes: An Ancient Ecology
Pseudoscorpions, as described by Poinar, are a diverse lineage of arachnids. Smaller than scorpions, they lack a stinger and tail and inhabit various environments worldwide. These creatures are associated with a wide array of parasitic organisms, including nematodes.
Nematodes are among the planet’s most abundant animals, “free-living” in water, soil, and the Earth’s crust in addition to parasitizing a large collection of plant and animal DOI: 10.1080/08912963.2024.2341848
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