Journal
NATURWISSENSCHAFTEN
Volume 96, Issue 2, Pages 289-295Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s00114-008-0480-y
Keywords
Insecta; Isoptera; Termites; Miocene; Tertiary; Austria
Categories
Funding
- National Science Foundation (USA) [DEB-0542909]
- University of Kansas Engel Illustration Fund
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A giant termite is described and figured from the Late Miocene of the Styrian Basin in southeastern Austria. Gyatermes styriensis gen. n. et sp. n. is represented by a relatively complete forewing, with basal scale. The fossil approximates in size the largest of all termites today and is the largest fossil termite on record. The presence of this species in the Late Miocene fauna of Europe indicates that climatic conditions were appropriate for the persistence of species and colonies requiring relatively stable, warm conditions. The genus is primitive in overall features but shares some similarity with the dampwood termites.
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