An exceptionally well-preserved Eocene dolichopodid fly eye: Function and evolutionary significance

Gengo Tanaka; Andrew R. Parker; David J. Siveter; Haruyoshi Maeda; Masumi Furutani

doi:10.1098/rspb.2008.1467

An exceptionally well-preserved Eocene dolichopodid fly eye: Function and evolutionary significance

Gengo Tanaka, Andrew R. Parker, David J. Siveter, Haruyoshi Maeda, Masumi Furutani

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

22 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The exceptionally preserved eyes of an Eocene dolichopodid fly contained in Baltic amber show remarkable detail, including features at micrometre and submicrometre levels. Based on this material, we establish that it is likely that the neural superposition compound eye existed as far back as 45Ma. The ommatidia have an open rhabdom with a trapezoidal arrangement of seven rhabdomeres. Such a structure is uniquely characteristic of the neural superposition compound eye of present-day flies. Optical analysis reveals that the fossil eyes had a sophisticated and efficient optical system.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1015-1019
Number of pages	5
Journal	Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Volume	276
Issue number	1659
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2008.1467
Publication status	Published - Mar 22 2009
Externally published	Yes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
Immunology and Microbiology(all)
Environmental Science(all)
Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)

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10.1098/rspb.2008.1467

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abstract = "The exceptionally preserved eyes of an Eocene dolichopodid fly contained in Baltic amber show remarkable detail, including features at micrometre and submicrometre levels. Based on this material, we establish that it is likely that the neural superposition compound eye existed as far back as 45Ma. The ommatidia have an open rhabdom with a trapezoidal arrangement of seven rhabdomeres. Such a structure is uniquely characteristic of the neural superposition compound eye of present-day flies. Optical analysis reveals that the fossil eyes had a sophisticated and efficient optical system.",

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AU - Furutani, Masumi

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AB - The exceptionally preserved eyes of an Eocene dolichopodid fly contained in Baltic amber show remarkable detail, including features at micrometre and submicrometre levels. Based on this material, we establish that it is likely that the neural superposition compound eye existed as far back as 45Ma. The ommatidia have an open rhabdom with a trapezoidal arrangement of seven rhabdomeres. Such a structure is uniquely characteristic of the neural superposition compound eye of present-day flies. Optical analysis reveals that the fossil eyes had a sophisticated and efficient optical system.

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An exceptionally well-preserved Eocene dolichopodid fly eye: Function and evolutionary significance

Abstract

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