A groundbreaking discovery has emerged from the United States, where scientists have uncovered fossilized eggs of prehistoric lice dating back over 99 million years. This finding, reported by National Geographic, sheds light on the intricate ecological interactions between ancient birds and their parasites.
The research team, led by Professor Diying Huang from the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, found these lice eggs embedded in Burmese amber from the Cretaceous period. The fossils represent the earliest evidence of specialized ectoparasitism in birds, revealing that ancient vertebrates were vulnerable to lice infestations.
These chewing lice eggs measured 512 micrometers in length and were affixed with a cement-like substance at regular intervals. The researchers utilized advanced techniques, including laser confocal microscopy and X-ray tomography, to analyze the structure and arrangement of the eggs along feather shafts.
This significant discovery fills a crucial gap in the fossil record, providing insights into the host-parasite dynamics of the past. It confirms that parasitic relationships existed among prehistoric birds, illustrating the evolutionary history of lice and their long-standing association with avian species.
Today, lice continue to infest birds and mammals, making this research vital for understanding the evolution of host-parasite interactions in ancient ecosystems, particularly during the Cretaceous period.