A article published in the journal “Cretaceous Research” describes an insect found in a piece of amber dating back about 100 million years ago. A team of Oregon State University (OSU) studied it and found in it characteristics quite different from those of any other insect to deserve the creation of a new order for its taxonomic classification, which occurred with the name Aethiocarenus burmanicus for its species.

In taxonomy insects make up a class that was previously divided into 31 orders, which included about one million classified species. The discovery of a strange insect trapped in a piece of amber dug in a mine in Myanmar, however, convinced the team led by George Poinar, Jr., emeritus professor of entomology in the OSU College of Science to create another one called Aethiocarenodea. The consequence was the need to also create other taxonomic groups to the new species, meaning a family that was called Aethiocarenidae. The genus is the species’ first part of the name, in this case Aethiocarenus.

What’s so special in the species called Aethiocarenus burmanicus? Professor Poinar stated that it has a number of features that don’t match those of any of the species known to him. It seems unique in the world of insects and for that reason its classification was the subject of lengthy discussions that ended with the creation of a new taxonomic order.

Insects trapped in amber are preserved in an exceptional way and another specimen of Aethiocarenus burmanicus was discovered, once again imprisoned in amber in today’s Myanmar. This allowed to make a good exam of the two specimens’ characteristics, of which the most curious was indicated in its triangular head with big bulging eyes, that allowed this insect to see even behind it. They give it a look similar to that of some of the aliens of pulp magazine science fiction.

Other features of Aethiocarenus burmanicus are the long and flat body, the absence of wings and the very thin legs including a pair much longer than the others. On the back of its neck it had glands secreting a substance that accordint to the scientists probably were used to ward off predators.

There are many questions about Aethiocarenus burmanicus, for example why did that species become extinct as other species that existed and probably belonged to the same order? It’s possible that some changes affected the habitat in which it lived and it didn’t adapted but we know too little so for now it’s just a hypothesis. It’s for such reasons that this kind of discoveries can lead to a whole series of investigations.