Sialomorpha
Temporal range: Tertiary
Artist's restoration
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
(unranked): Panarthropoda
(unranked): incertae sedis
Family: †Sialomorphidae
Poinar & Nelson, 2019
Genus: †Sialomorpha
Poinar & Nelson, 2019
Species:
†S. dominicana
Binomial name
†Sialomorpha dominicana
Poinar & Nelson, 2019

Sialomorpha dominicana, also known as the mold pig, is a panarthropod genus of uncertain affinities discovered in 30-million year old Dominican amber by George Poinar at Oregon State University and Diane R. Nelson at East Tennessee University.[1][2] It was placed in a new genus and family (Sialomorphidae) unto itself, and appears to represent a new phylum. S. dominicana shares some resemblance to tardigrades and mites.[3] It is about 100 µm long and grew by molting its exoskeleton.[4] It was probably an omnivore, feeding on minute invertebrates and fungi, including mold.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 Poinar, George; Nelson, Diane R. (September 28, 2019). "A new microinvertebrate with features of mites and tardigrades in Dominican amber". Invertebrate Biology. 138 (4). doi:10.1111/ivb.12265. ISSN 1077-8306. S2CID 204157733.
  2. ↑ Dvorsky, George (October 9, 2019). "You've Heard Of Water Bears, But How About These Ancient Mould Pigs?". Gizmodo. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  3. ↑ Irving, Michael (October 8, 2019). "Newly discovered "mold pigs" don't fit into any known animal group". New Atlas. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  4. ↑ News Staff (October 9, 2019). "Mold Pigs: Strange Creatures with Features of Mites and Tardigrades Found in Amber". Sci News. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
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