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Diversity, Form, and Postembryonic Development of Paleozoic Insects
Jakub Prokop1, André Nel2, Michael S Engel3,4,5
1Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic;
Annual Review of Entomology
|January 23, 2023
Summary
The Paleozoic insect fossil record reveals key evolutionary innovations like wings and holometaboly. This review details hexapod diversity and development during this critical period before mass extinction.
Area of Science:
- Paleontology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Entomology
Background:
- Modern insect faunas (Mesozoic, Paleogene, Neogene) resemble extant species.
- The Paleozoic insect fauna offers insights into major evolutionary events.
- Deep-divergence estimates suggest Late Paleozoic origins for most extant insect orders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent discoveries on Paleozoic hexapod diversity.
- To summarize current knowledge on fossil-verified postembryonic development.
- To examine the morphology of Paleozoic insect body parts.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of fossil evidence from the Paleozoic era.
- Review of recent paleontological discoveries.
- Synthesis of data on insect morphology and development.
Main Results:
- The Paleozoic fossil record documents key innovations: origin of wings and holometaboly.
- Initial radiations of hyperdiverse clades occurred in the Early Permian.
- A specialized fauna existed prior to the End Permian mass extinction.
Conclusions:
- The Paleozoic era was crucial for insect evolution, predating the diversification of modern insect orders.
- Fossil evidence is key to understanding early insect development and morphology.
- Understanding Paleozoic hexapods provides context for insect evolutionary history.
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