''Delitzschala'' is an extinct
palaeodictyopteran, the oldest known to
science. It was discovered by two
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ger ...
entomologists in
1996
File:1996 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: A Centennial Olympic Park bombing, bomb explodes at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, set off by a radical Anti-abortion violence, anti-abortionist; The center fuel tank explodes on TWA Flight 8 ...
. ''Delitzschala'' had a wingspan of just 2½ cm (1 in) and an irregular pattern of coloured spots on its
wings. Although it was 320 million years old, these spots were still visible in the
fossil. It is presumed that they
camouflaged the animal, since
dragonflies are unable to fold their wings.
References
DragonhuntersV. Medland (2007) ''Econotes at the Cofrin Center for Biodiversity''
External links
Delitzschalaat ''The Paleobiology Database''
Fossil taxa described in 1996
Mississippian insects
Fossils of Germany
Prehistoric insect genera
Palaeodictyopteroidea
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