'Unique In The Insect World': Insect From The Time Of Dinosaurs Looks Like An Alien

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Link: 'Unique in the insect world': Insect from time of dinosaurs looks like an alien | KLEW

 

 

...They've compared it to the estimated million species of insects so far described by science.

 

And they've come to an historic conclusion.

 

“This insect has a number of features that just don’t match those of any other insect species that I know,” said George Poinar Jr., an emeritus professor of entomology in the OSU College of Science. “I had never really seen anything like it. It appears to be unique in the insect world."

 

To date, those million species of insects on Earth have fit into 31 "orders."

Both "species" and "order" are part of the way living things are described by science: kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus and species.

 

This insect doesn't fit in any of the existing 31 orders.

 

"After considerable discussion," Poinar said, "we decided it had to take its place in a new order.”...