March 3, 2026

Morphological stasis in the mite family Caeculidae: Caeculus aeternus sp. nov., a remarkable fossil species of rake-legged mite from Baltic amber

Key Points

Morphological stasis indicates that Caeculus aeternus shares traits with present-day relatives, showing evolutionary continuity.
The specimen describes a unique rake-legged mite from Eocene Baltic amber, highlighting its notable features like setae.
Comparison with extant Caeculus species underscores slight differences in dorsal plates and leg setae length.
This fossil adds to our understanding of Caeculidae evolution, hinting at periods of little change over time.

Abstract

Caeculus aeternus sp. nov. is described based on a single specimen preserved in Baltic amber (Eocene). This species is the second fossil representative of the genus Caeculus, and the third species of the genus known from Europe. The species has a remarkable resemblance to the unique extant species of Caeculus in Eurasia: C. echinipes, differing only by the number of setae in the dorsal plates and the length and shape of setae of some leg segments. Morphological diachronic stasis in caeculid mites is discussed.

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Morphological stasis in the mite family Caeculidae: Caeculus aeternus sp. nov., a remarkable fossil species of rake-legged mite from Baltic amber

Key Points

Abstract

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