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Chosha praecursor illuminates the early history of insects

A new Carboniferous fossil from Texas was described as an early-diverging insect with an unusual combination of terrestrial and aquatic adaptations.

What does this research tell us?

Chosha praecursor comes from rocks about 324 million years old in Texas. The study interprets its paddle-like abdominal appendages as evidence relevant to how early insects occupied waterside environments.

What does the fossil preserve?

The specimen preserves a mosaic of features. Those structures are useful because early insect body plans are sparsely sampled compared with younger winged groups.

How should the claim be read?

The proposed ecology and evolutionary position are scientific interpretations derived from one fossil and comparative analysis. Future specimens may refine them.

Check the original source

Nature — Amphibious stem-insect sheds light on colonization of land (published abstract)DOI 10.1038/s41586-026-10961-2