Prehistoric insects 2012081 222182650 2008-06-27T23:32:02Z Dysmorodrepanis 303688 '''Prehistoric insects''' are various groups of [[insects]] that lived before recorded [[history]]. Insects inhabited [[Earth]] since before the time of the [[dinosaur]]s. Many modern insects had already evolved to very similar forms even before the dawning of the dinosaur and lived alongside them and beyond up to the present day. Like today, prehistoric insects were an important part of the [[food chain]] in their time. The differences between modern and prehistoric varieties can be essential, and, like many other creatures of prehistory, the latter tended to be much larger than their contemporary equivalents. This size difference is thought to be due to higher [[atmospheric]] [[oxygen]] levels (allowing [[diffusion]] through [[spiracle]]s over greater distances) and higher [[temperature]]s (enhancing [[metabolism]]). Since insects have [[chitin]] [[exoskeleton]]s rather than [[mineral]]ized [[bone]]s, their [[taphonomy|burial]] processes differ compared to the [[fossil]]s of much larger [[vertebrate]]s such as [[dinosaur]]s. Many insect remains are found preserved in the hardened [[Sap (plant)|sap]] of ancient [[tree]]s ([[amber]]). Examples of prehistoric insects include: * [[Eobelinae]] * [[Palaeodictyopteroidea]] * [[Rhyniognatha]] * [[Meganeura]] <!-- * [[Cockroach]]es * [[Coleoptera]] * [[Diptera]] [these are all still extant. Pick specific taxa which are completely extinct] --> == See also == * [[Prehistoric life]] == References == * {{cite book|author=[[David Grimaldi|Grimaldi, David]] and [[Michael S. Engel|Engel, Michael S.]] |title=Evolution of the Insects|year=[[2005-05-16]]|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]|id=ISBN 0-521-82149-5 | pages=143 }} * {{cite book|author=[[Alex Rasnitsyn|Rasnitsyn, A.P.]] and Quicke, D.L.J.|title=History of Insects|year=[[2002]]|publisher=[[Kluwer Academic Publishers]]|id=ISBN 1-4020-0026-X}}. == External links == *[http://www.abc.net.au/ozfossil/ageofreptiles/fauna/insects.htm Insects in the Age of Reptiles] *[http://www.kendall-bioresearch.co.uk/fossil.htm Insect Fossils] A timechart and evolutionary history. *[http://fossilinsects.net International Palaeoentomological Society] *[http://palaeoentomolog.ru Palaeoentomology in Russia] in both English and Russian [[Category:Paleontology]] [[Category:Fossils]] [[Category:Prehistoric insects| ]] [[Category:Insects| Prehistoric]]