99 million-year-old amber yields fossil surprise

The flea trapped in the amber. PIC/X

In a discovery akin to stepping back into the ancient world, Israeli scientists uncovered a new species of flea preserved in amber. This remarkable find offers a rare glimpse into the distant past, approximately 99 million years ago, when dinosaurs roamed the Earth alongside a diverse array of insects.

The study, led by Dolav Fabrikant from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Tanya (Tatiana) Novoselsky from the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History at Tel Aviv University, has been published in the peer-reviewed Israel Journal of Entomology.

Named Miropictopallium coloradmonens, this flea stands out from its ancient counterparts due to its vivid and distinct coloration. While most ancient insects preserved in amber exhibit muted, yellowish-brown hues, this flea boasts striking colors that likely served as a form of predator deterrent, akin to a natural superhero cape.

"The new insect enriches our comprehension of the present world by providing insights into a significant transitional era in the history of life on land. Its era was marked by a surge in biological diversity and the inception of what would become modern ecosystems," Fabrikant said.

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