Virtual dissection using phase-contrast X-ray synchrotron microtomography: reducing the gap between fossils and extant species

Cretaciella sorianoae gen. et sp. nov. (Coleoptera, Leiodidae, Cholevinae, Oritocatopini) from Albian amber of the Escucha Formation (Alava, Spain) is described and illustrated. This is the first species of Leiodidae from Alava amber and the first Cholevinae from Cretaceous amber. External and internal structures are investigated by propagation phase contrast X-ray microtomography. Based on both external and genital structures, Cretaciella is tentatively placed in the tribe Oritocatopini, the extant species of which occur in Sub-Saharan Africa. This specimen has no visible eyes or hind wings, which suggests an adaptation to subterranean or at least to soil litter environments. The biogeography of the tribe is succinctly discussed.

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Phase contrast X-ray synchrotron microtomography and the oldest damselflies in amber (Odonata: Zygoptera: Hemiphlebiidae)

Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society ◽

10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00497.x ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 156 (4) ◽

pp. 913-923 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

MALVINA LAK ◽

GÜNTHER FLECK ◽

DANY AZAR ◽

MICHAEL S. ENGEL FLS ◽

HANI F. KADDUMI ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phase Contrast ◽

X Ray ◽

Synchrotron Microtomography

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Virtual dissection of Thoropa miliaris tadpole using phase-contrast synchrotron microtomography

Journal of Instrumentation ◽

10.1088/1748-0221/13/05/c05012 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 13 (05) ◽

pp. C05012-C05012 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

G. Fidalgo ◽

M.V. Colaço ◽

L.P. Nogueira ◽

D. Braz ◽

H.R. Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phase Contrast ◽

Virtual Dissection ◽

Synchrotron Microtomography

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New Orchestina Simon, 1882 (Araneae: Oonopidae) from Cretaceous ambers of Spain and France: first spiders described using phase-contrast X-ray synchrotron microtomography

Palaeontology ◽

10.1111/j.1475-4983.2011.01123.x ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 55 (1) ◽

pp. 127-143 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

ERIN E. SAUPE ◽

RICARDO PÉREZ-de la FUENTE ◽

PAUL A. SELDEN ◽

XAVIER DELCLÒS ◽

PAUL TAFFOREAU ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phase Contrast ◽

X Ray ◽

Synchrotron Microtomography

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A parasitic coevolution since the Miocene revealed by phase-contrast synchrotron X-ray microtomography and the study of natural history collections

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-79481-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Michel Perreau ◽

Danny Haelewaters ◽

Paul Tafforeau

Keyword(s):

Natural History ◽

Phase Contrast ◽

Parasitic Fungus ◽

Technological Advancement ◽

Fossil Species ◽

X Ray ◽

Phylogenetic Relations ◽

Dominican Amber ◽

Natural History Collections ◽

Extant Species

AbstractThe discovery of a new fossil species of the Caribbeo-Mexican genus Proptomaphaginus (Coleoptera, Leiodidae, Cholevinae) from Dominican amber, associated with a new fossil parasitic fungus in the genus Columnomyces (Ascomycota, Laboulbeniales), triggered an investigation of extant species of Proptomaphaginus and revealed the long-enduring parasitic association between these two genera. This effort resulted in the description of the fossil species †Proptomaphaginus alleni sp. nov., and one fossil and two extant species of Columnomyces, selectively associated with species of Proptomaphaginus: †Columnomyces electri sp. nov. associated with the fossil †Proptomaphaginus alleni in Dominican amber, Columnomyces hispaniolensis sp. nov. with the extant Proptomaphaginus hispaniolensis (endemic of Hispaniola), and Columnomyces peckii sp. nov. with the extant Proptomaphaginus puertoricensis (endemic of Puerto Rico). Based on biogeography, our current understanding is that the Caribbean species of Proptomaphaginus and their parasitic species of Columnomyces have coevolved since the Miocene. This is the first occurrence of such a coevolution between a genus of parasitic fungus and a genus of Coleoptera. The phylogenetic relations among Proptomaphaginus species are also addressed based on a parsimony analysis. Fossil specimens were observed by propagation phase-contrast synchrotron X-ray microtomography (PPC-SRμCT) and extant specimens were obtained through the study of preserved dried, pinned insects, attesting for the importance of (i) technological advancement and (ii) natural history collections in the study of microparasitic relationships.

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A minute fossil phoretic mite recovered by phase-contrast X-ray computed tomography

Biology Letters ◽

10.1098/rsbl.2011.0923 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 457-460 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Jason A. Dunlop ◽

Stefan Wirth ◽

David Penney ◽

Andrew McNeil ◽

Robert S. Bradley ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Computed Tomography ◽

Phase Contrast ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Three Dimensional Model ◽

X Ray ◽

Extant Species ◽

Minimum Age ◽

X Ray Computed ◽

Body Fossil

High-resolution phase-contrast X-ray computed tomography (CT) reveals the phoretic deutonymph of a fossil astigmatid mite (Acariformes: Astigmata) attached to a spider's carapace (Araneae: Dysderidae) in Eocene (44–49 Myr ago) Baltic amber. Details of appendages and a sucker plate were resolved, and the resulting three-dimensional model demonstrates the potential of tomography to recover morphological characters of systematic significance from even the tiniest amber inclusions without the need for a synchrotron. Astigmatids have an extremely sparse palaeontological record. We confirm one of the few convincing fossils, potentially the oldest record of Histiostomatidae. At 176 µm long, we believe this to be the smallest arthropod in amber to be CT-scanned as a complete body fossil, extending the boundaries for what can be recovered using this technique. We also demonstrate a minimum age for the evolution of phoretic behaviour among their deutonymphs, an ecological trait used by extant species to disperse into favourable environments. The occurrence of the fossil on a spider is noteworthy, as modern histiostomatids tend to favour other arthropods as carriers.

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Phase Contrast Synchrotron Microtomography: Improving Noninvasive Investigations of Fossil Embryos In Ovo

Microscopy and Microanalysis ◽

10.1017/s1431927611012426 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 179-185 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Vincent Fernandez ◽

Eric Buffetaut ◽

Eric Maire ◽

Jérôme Adrien ◽

Varavudh Suteethorn ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phase Contrast ◽

Large Scale ◽

Imaging Techniques ◽

Low Density ◽

In Ovo ◽

Phylogenetic Information ◽

X Ray ◽

Fossil Embryos ◽

Synchrotron Microtomography ◽

Destructive Methods

AbstractFossil embryos are paramount for our understanding of the development of extinct species. However, although thousands of fossil amniote eggs are known, very few embryos in ovo have been described. First reports of fossil embryos were based on broken eggs, where the embryonic remains were already exposed, because destructive methods on complete eggs were avoided. Investigations of complete eggs therefore required nondestructive approaches, such as X-ray microtomography (μCT). However, due to the general low density contrast between fossilized bones and infilling matrix, only a few specimens have been reported using these techniques. Using propagation phase contrast X-ray synchrotron microtomography (PPC-SR-μCT), we report here the discovery of three well-preserved embryos in Early Cretaceous eggs from Thailand. By scanning these eggs using different imaging techniques, we show that vastly different interpretations can be made regarding the preservation state and/or the developmental stage of these embryos. PPC-SR-μCT also revealed differential contrast between bone categories, presumably reflecting the ossification pattern of these embryos. Applying such an approach to large-scale studies of fossil eggs could lead to more discoveries and detailed studies of fossil embryos, providing important developmental and phylogenetic information on extinct and extant amniotes.

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