Currently, the earliest fossil of Cicadoidea was found in the Triassic. All Mesozoic Cicadoidea fossils have traditionally been classified into Cicadidae and Tettigarctidae based on a few distinct and conservative morphological features. However, this direct assignment of Mesozoic fossils to modern taxa may overlook the role of unique and transitional features provided by fossils in tracking their early evolutionary paths.
A research team from NIGPAS led a collaborative cicada study with scholars from several countries. Their research aimed to clarify the early evolutionary history of Cicadoidea fossils, the phylogenetic relationships between Mesozoic fossils and extant Cicadoidea, the macroevolution of body structure adaptations, and their relationship with environmental changes. The related findings were recently published in Nature Communications on January 8th, 2024.
This study conducted a morphological analysis of the partial structures of adults and nymphs, to compare subtle continuous morphological changes with classification and phylogenetic outcomes. The research found that specialized homologous structures in insect fossils might contain previously overlooked identifiable transitional variations. An in-depth examination of these continuous morphological changes can provide a more precise understanding of the impact of spatiotemporal changes on morphological evolution and further clarify patterns of macroevolution.
Download：