Summary
Schistomerus is an extinct genus of predaceous diving beetle that is known from one species, Schistomerus californense, which inhabited Lake Barstow during the middle Miocene.[1] It is the most common beetle found in the concretions from the Barstow Formation. The specimens are typically preserved in three dimensions.
| Schistomerus Temporal range: Middle Miocene,
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Dytiscidae |
| Genus: | †Schistomerus |
| Species: | †S. californense
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| Binomial name | |
| †Schistomerus californense (Palmer, 1957)
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All ontogenetic stages of the beetle are present in the concretions. The larval stages of the beetle are most commonly represented, and the mature larvae range from 4.5 - 5.5 mm long.[2] Only 3 adults have been recovered.
Due to the preservational conditions of the formation, a number of individuals were preserved with intact internal anatomy. The tracheal system as well as parts of the organism's nervous system have been described.[2]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Park, Lisa E.; Downing, Kevin F. (April 2001), "Paleoecology of an Exceptionally Preserved Arthropod Fauna from Lake Deposits of the Miocene Barstow Formation, Southern California, U.S.A", PALAIOS, 16 (2), Society for Sedimentary Geology: 175–184, Bibcode:2001Palai..16..175P, doi:10.1669/0883-1351(2001)016<0175:POAEPA>2.0.CO;2, ISSN 0883-1351, S2CID 129795195
- ^ a b Palmer, A.R., 1957, Miocene arthropods from the Mojave Desert California: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper, v. 294-G, p. 237-280.