Caurinus tlagu

Sikes & Stockbridge, 2013

snow scorpionfly

Caurinus tlagu is a minute in the Boreidae, described in 2013 from Prince of Wales Island, Alaska. It is the second known in the Caurinus, a relict group whose fossil record extends to the Jurassic period over 145 million years ago. The species has been proposed as potentially illuminating the evolutionary origins of fleas due to its morphological similarities and phylogenetic position.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Caurinus tlagu: //kaʊˈraɪnəs ˈtɬɑːɡuː//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Distinguished from its sister Caurinus dectes by visible morphological features and oxidase II gene sequences. The only other member of the , C. dectes, occurs in Washington and Oregon. The combination of tiny size, -like lateral appearance, absence of hindwings, reduced or absent rostrum, and specific wing dimorphism separates it from all other Boreidae.

Appearance

Minute reddish-brown insect measuring 1.5–2.3 mm in length. Body covered with and sparsely distributed soft hairs. Lateral profile resembles a . Ocelli absent; rostrum reduced or completely absent. Hindwings lacking in both sexes. Female forewings reduced to pad-like structures; male forewings extend only to first abdominal segment. five-segmented, hairless, with tarsal claws. with fourth and fifth segments widest; first two segments . with two teeth positioned below apex.

Habitat

Coastal forested locations supporting leafy liverworts. Documented from open clearcut spaces, tundra, areas between trees, and heaths with alpine trees.

Distribution

Known only from Prince of Wales Island, Alaska, USA. The only confirmed locality is the type locality in coastal forest .

Diet

Feeds on leafy liverworts (Marchantiophyta) growing in coastal forests.

Behavior

Exhibits hopping locomotion. Video documentation shows active hopping similar to fleas.

Human Relevance

Discovery involved crowdsourced identification through Facebook, demonstrating the potential of social media in taxonomic research. The specific epithet honors Tlingit heritage of Prince of Wales Island, with "tlagu" meaning "ancient" in Tlingit, acknowledging both the history and the apparent great age of the .

Similar Taxa

Caurinus dectesSister and only other member of ; distinguished by morphological features and oxidase II gene sequences; occurs in Washington and Oregon rather than Alaska
fleas (Siphonaptera)Superficially resembles fleas in size, color, and lateral profile, but is not a and belongs to different order (Mecoptera); wingless condition and hopping represent

More Details

Discovery context

Discovered by graduate student Jill Stockbridge during thesis research on Prince of Wales Island. Initial identification uncertainty led to posting on Facebook, where entomologist Michael Ivie recognized the . This represents an early example of crowdsourced taxonomic identification via social media.

Evolutionary significance

Fossil evidence indicates the Caurinus dates to the Jurassic period, over 145 million years ago. The group's and phylogenetic position may help elucidate the evolutionary origins of fleas (Siphonaptera).

Etymology

The specific epithet "tlagu" derives from Tlingit language, meaning "ancient," honoring the place of occurrence, its people and history, and the apparent great age of the .