One of the reasons why it is so difficult to theorise about the evolution of species following the Permian mass extinction is the dearth of fossil evidence dating from the period. With fewer choices of organic material available to eat, perhaps the mayflies were left without a better choice? Or maybe they were simply exploiting new environmental niches that opened up in the aftermath of this catastrophic event? It is possible that the mayflies found in Mallorca adopted their diet as a result of the Permian mass extinction, which killed off more than 80% of all the species on Earth, ‘just’ five million years prior. Sediment is a pretty challenging food source, and it’s hard to say why insects may have relied more heavily on it in the ancient past. A handful of modern mayfly species have been observed to munch on the muddy sediment that surrounds the openings of their tunnels, but this is a very rare occurrence. Sediment-based diets are extremely rare among living insect species. These inclusions result from the original sediment the nymphs fed on (cololite, labelled here with arrows). One of the numerous Early Triassic mayfly nymphs from Mallorca preserved with gut contents. It seems that the Triassic mayfly nymphs found in Mallorca would have munched through large quantities of sediment digesting the organic detritus it contained, and excreting the inorganic remainder. matter derived from plants and other animals. Instead, we rely on organic material for nutrition, i.e. Animal digestive systems are unable to extract energy from inorganic mineral matter, like sand. The sharp crunch of mineral sediment is worth the sacrifice for the delicious, digestible portion of your sandwich – the bread and fillings. If you’ve ever tried eating a sandwich on the beach, you’ll be familiar with the feeling of sand in your teeth. The most likely explanation for this strange food-pairing? It seems that the nymphs actually survived by eating muddy sediments that had settled to the bottom of the swampy-waters they lived in – yum! A research team, led by Dr Enrique Peñalver, and featuring OUMNH’s own Dr Ricardo Pérez-de la Fuente, discovered that the mayflies’ digestive tracts contained a mixture of detritus (the decomposed remains of other organisms) and particles of a type of rock known as claystone. Some of the juvenile mayflies (nymphs) were so well-fossilised that it has been possible to study the contents of their guts. The mayflies in question lived 240 million years ago in bodies of water associated with ancient floodplains. (photo: Balearic Museum of Natural Sciences)įollowing recent fossil excavations near the the coastal town of Estellencs in southwest Mallorca, palaeontologists have discovered evidence of a species of mayfly with a pretty peculiar diet. Palaeontologists working here discovered fossils of Triassic mayfly nymphs with unusual gut contents. …well, tasty for some, at least! Coastal cliffs near Estellencs (Mallorca, Spain). Visitors to the small Spanish island find themselves lured by its glittering seas, captivating coastline, and tasty white sands… UNEARTHING THE PECULIAR EATING HABITS OF A TRIASSIC MAYFLY SPECIESĭuring the summer months, the beaches of Mallorca offer an irresistible draw for tourists and palaeontologists alike.
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