Rhyniognatha is an extinct genus of arthropod of disputed placement. It has been considered in some analyses as the oldest insect known, as well as possibly being a flying insect. Rhyniognatha is known from a partial head with preserved mouthparts from the Early Devonian aged Rhynie chert around 400 million years old, when Earth’s first terrestrial ecosystems were being formed. The type, and only species is R. hirsti, which was named and described in 1928. Other analyses have interpreted the specimen as a myriapod.
Fossil:
Another possible reconstructions:
Possible centipede reconstruction, probably as larva, this is suggested, highly speculative interpretation of Rhyniognatha hirsti as a Crussolumlike centipede. Note that the depicted morphology refers to a fully grown adult, while the fossil itself was more likely an early immature.
Head reconstruction:
Coming to ARK soon
Oh what a tiny little thing! It always amazes me how paleoanthropologists manage to find and identify something this miniscule
I have read about this specimen before, but I just sent some of these images to an acquaintance of mine. He’s a concept artist for an indie title and I occasionally send him images of extinct or obscure insects to inspire his creativity.
