Paleontologists Discover 'Noo-Noo' Insect From Dinosaur Era
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Paleontologists from Tel Aviv University have identified a new insect species, "Cretodorus Noo-Noo," preserved in 99-million-year-old amber from the dinosaur era. The insect possessed exceptionally long, flexible mouthparts, nearly twice its body length, likely used for accessing tree sap deep within bark crevices. This discovery offers significant insights into the unique evolutionary adaptations and ancient forest ecosystems of the Cretaceous period. The findings were published in the journal "Insects."
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- A new insect species, "Cretodorus Noo-Noo," from the dinosaur era was discovered in 99-million-year-old amber.
- The "Noo-Noo" insect had unique, flexible mouthparts nearly twice its body length.
- Researchers believe the mouthparts were adapted for sucking tree sap from deep within bark fissures.
- The discovery provides insights into the evolutionary solutions and ancient forest ecosystems of the Cretaceous period.
- The research involved scientists from Tel Aviv University and the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology.
A team of researchers from Tel Aviv University's Faculty of Zoology and the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History has identified a previously unknown insect species, named "Noo-Noo," preserved in amber dating back approximately 99 million years to the age of dinosaurs. The discovery, detailed in the journal "Insects," introduces "Cretodorus Noo-Noo" to science. The study was conducted by Dolev Fabrikant and Leonidas-Romanos Davranoglou, in collaboration with Yanzhe Fu from the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology.
The research highlights a unique biological adaptation in "Noo-Noo" and its relatives: exceptionally long and flexible mouthparts, nearly twice the length of the insect's body. Researchers theorize these specialized mouthparts allowed the insects to access food sources deep within tree bark crevices, inaccessible to insects with more rigid structures. "The discovery of 'Noo-Noo' provides us with a truly extraordinary insight into the insect world of the dinosaur age," stated Davranoglou, emphasizing that it represents not just a new species but an "evolutionary solution."
The study examined various fossils from the ancient cicada family Neazoniidae, including 13 specimens found in Kachin amber from Myanmar. Unlike modern relatives with simple needle-like mouthparts for piercing plant tissue and sucking sap, these ancient insects possessed extremely elongated, flexible mouthparts covered in transverse folds. High-resolution micro-CT scans revealed these folds were integral to the mouthparts' structure, providing flexibility akin to a bendable straw.
The insect's unusual appearance inspired its nickname "Noo-Noo," referencing the long, flexible hose of the character from the children's show Teletubbies. While butterflies use flexible proboscises for nectar, the researchers believe "Noo-Noo's" backward-pointing mouthparts were adapted for piercing and sucking, likely tree sap. They suggest a unique two-lobed, grooved structure at the tip may have anchored the tool within bark fissures, similar to a plug.
Davranoglou noted that similarly elongated or grooved feeding structures have appeared in unrelated insect groups from the Cretaceous period, suggesting distinct ecological conditions and opportunities in ancient forests compared to today. "The discovery of such a new species is therefore not just another name on the tree of life," he added, "but an additional puzzle piece helping us reconstruct how ecosystems were structured and functioned millions of years ago."
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