First fossil species of family Hyidae (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones) confirms 99 million years of ecological stasis in a Gondwanan lineage

Burmese amber preserves a diverse assemblage of Cretaceous arachnids, and among pseudoscorpions (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones), ten species in five families have already been named. Here, we describe a new fossil species from Burmese amber in the pseudoscorpion family Hyidae, providing detailed measurements, photographs and 3D-models from synchrotron scanning.

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“We describe a new fossil species from Burmese amber in the pseudoscorpion family Hyidae, providing detailed measurements, photographs and 3D-models from synchrotron scanning.“

Liza M Röschmann

University of Hamburg

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What is the focus of this research?

The research focuses on the discovery and description of a new fossil species of pseudoscorpion from Burmese amber, specifically from the family Hyidae. This fossil species, named Hya fynni, provides insight into the evolutionary history and ecological stability of this ancient arachnid lineage.

What is significant about Hya fynni?

Hya fynni is significant because it represents the first fossil species ever described in the Hyidae family. It shows that the family and the genus Hya have existed for at least 99 million years, displaying remarkable morphological stability over this vast period.

How was Hya fynni discovered and studied?

The fossil was discovered in Burmese amber, which is known for preserving ancient creatures from the Cretaceous period. The researchers used detailed measurements, photographs, and advanced 3D models from synchrotron scanning to study the morphology of the fossil.

How does Hya fynni compare to living pseudoscorpions in the genus Hya?

Hya fynni is almost identical to living species in the genus Hya, such as Hya minuta and Hya chamberlini. The only difference is in the position of a sensory hair (trichobothrium est) on one of its appendages, indicating very little change in the genus over millions of years.

What does the discovery of Hya fynni tell us about the history of pseudoscorpions?

The discovery suggests that the family Hyidae has experienced extreme morphological stasis, meaning it has not significantly changed in nearly 100 million years. This supports the idea that the genus Hya originated during the time of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana.

How does this fossil relate to geological history?

Hya fynni supports the “Late Jurassic Rifting” hypothesis, which posits that the landmass containing Burma (the Burma Terrane) separated from Gondwana in the Late Jurassic and collided with Eurasia by the Cretaceous/Eocene. This fossil, along with others, suggests that these pseudoscorpions lived in tropical forests on this landmass during the Cretaceous period.

What does this research imply about the ecology of the genus Hya?

The research implies that the ecological niche of the genus Hya has remained unchanged for 99 million years. Hya fynni likely lived in similar humid, tropical forest environments as its modern relatives, indicating long-term ecological stability.

Why is this discovery important for understanding evolution?

This discovery is important because it provides a rare example of evolutionary stasis, where a species or lineage undergoes very little change over a long period. It highlights how certain environmental niches can remain stable over geological time, allowing species to persist with little modification.