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A SUBFOSSIL GIANT DERMAPTERON FROM ST. HELENA
Author(s) -
ZEUNER F. E.
Publication year - 1962
Publication title -
proceedings of the zoological society of london
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0370-2774
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1962.tb05337.x
Subject(s) - subfossil , chitin , geology , archaeology , paleontology , biology , holocene , geography , biochemistry , chitosan
An interesting fragment of a very large insect has recently been presented to the Museum. It is without doubt the forceps of an earwig together with remnants of the last tergite. The specimen was recovered from sand in Prosperous Bay, St. Helena. Its condition is not that of fresh chitin, and it is therefore conceivably fossil. The chitin is dull and brittle, which suggests some age, though not necessarily a high one. On the other hand, the surrounding sand was evidently unconsolidated, as traces only were found adhering to any part of the specimen. It is best regarded as subfossil until more material is found. Of this there is a fair chance as will be explained presently.