Delitzschala Temporal range:
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | †Palaeodictyoptera |
Family: | †Spilapteridae |
Genus: | †Delitzschala Brauckmann et Schneider, 1996[1] |
Species: | †D. bitterfeldensis
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Binomial name | |
†Delitzschala bitterfeldensis Brauckmann et Schneider, 1996
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Delitzschala is an extinct palaeodictyopteran, the oldest known to science. It was discovered by two German entomologists in 1996. Delitzschala had a wingspan of just 2½ cm (1 in) and an irregular pattern of coloured spots on its wings. Although it was from Middle Carboniferous (Namurian),[2] these spots were still visible in the fossil. It is possible that this camouflaged the animal, as it may have rested with its wings open as many modern-day insects do.