Voltinia dramba is a fossil metalmark butterfly, found in pieces of amber in the Dominican Republic on the island of Hispaniola in 2004.[1] The butterfly, belonging to the extant genus Voltinia, is the first species to be taxonomically described from amber and the first true fossil of an adult riodinid. Five specimens, all females, were found in pieces of amber from the resin of the extinct leguminous tree Hymenaea protera (Poinar 1991). Also, the genus Voltinia contains nine heterogeneous species that range from Mexico to Brazil.[1] The fossil appeared to be 15-25 million years old and it's a holotype female fossil.[1] However, the fossil's origin may be unknown, it is ingrained in highly polymerized Dominican amber.[1]
| Voltinia dramba Temporal range:
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| Species: | †V. dramba
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| Binomial name | |
| †Voltinia dramba Hall, Robbins & Harvey 2004[1]
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References edit
- ^ a b c d e Hall, Jason P W; Robbins, Robert K; Harvey, Donald J (22 April 2004). "Extinction and biogeography in the Caribbean: new evidence from a fossil riodinid butterfly in Dominican amber". Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 271 (1541). Royal Society: 797–801. doi:10.1098/rspb.2004.2691. PMC 1691661. PMID 15255097.
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