Sialomorpha

Sialomorpha Temporal range: Tertiary 45–15  Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Artist's restoration
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
(unranked):	Panarthropoda
(unranked):	incertae sedis
Family:	† Sialomorphidae Poinar & Nelson, 2019
Genus:	† Sialomorpha Poinar & Nelson, 2019
Species:	†S. dominicana
Binomial name
†Sialomorpha dominicana Poinar & Nelson, 2019

Sialomorpha dominicana, also known as the mold pig, is a panarthropod genus of uncertain affinities discovered in 30-million year old Dominican amber by George Poinar at Oregon State University and Diane R. Nelson at East Tennessee University. ^{[1] [2]} It was placed in a new genus and family (Sialomorphidae) unto itself, and appears to represent a new phylum. S. dominicana shares some resemblance to tardigrades and mites. ^[3] It is about 100 μm long and grew by molting its exoskeleton. ^[4] It was probably an omnivore, feeding on minute invertebrates and fungi, including mold. ^[1]

References

1. Poinar, George; Nelson, Diane R. (September 28, 2019). "A new microinvertebrate with features of mites and tardigrades in Dominican amber" . Invertebrate Biology. 138 (4). doi:10.1111/ivb.12265. ISSN   1077-8306. S2CID   204157733.
2. Dvorsky, George (October 9, 2019). "You've Heard Of Water Bears, But How About These Ancient Mould Pigs?". Gizmodo. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
3. Irving, Michael (October 8, 2019). "Newly discovered "mold pigs" don't fit into any known animal group". New Atlas. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
4. News Staff (October 9, 2019). "Mold Pigs: Strange Creatures with Features of Mites and Tardigrades Found in Amber". Sci News. Retrieved October 9, 2019.