News

30 Million-Year-Old Praying Mantis Is Preserved in Pristine Piece of Amber

Embedded within a clear piece of amber, a small praying mantis sits at attention, frozen forever in time. The piece, which measures just slightly over one inch tall, was sold via Heritage Auctions for $6,000 in 2016. The pristine piece of amber, which comes from the Dominican Republic, gives a rare view of this incredible mantis.

The amber itself derives from the extinct Hymenaea protera, a prehistoric leguminous tree. Most amber found in Central and South America comes from its resin. Amber from the Dominican Republic is known as Dominican resin, which is noted for its clarity and a high number of inclusions.

Heritage Auctions dates the piece in question to the Oligocene period, placing it anywhere from about 23 million to 33.9 million years old. It’s an important period of time where the archaic Eocene transitions into more modern ecosystems of the Miocene period, which lasted until 5 million years ago. Incredibly, the mantis itself doesn’t appear so different from what we see today.

There are over 2,400 species of mantises today, mainly living in tropical climates. But the earliest mantis fossils, which date back 135 million years, come from a place that is, today, much colder—Siberia. Some early fossils even show mantises with spines on their front legs, just like modern mantises. Whoever bought this piece of amber took home an interesting piece of evolutionary history, one that can be gazed at each day.

Take a look at this 30 million-year-old praying mantis, encased in amber and forever frozen in time.

Picture courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.HA.com
Picture courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.HA.com
Picture courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.HA.com

Related Posts

Elon Musk Faces Backlash From Taylor Swift Fans After “Vulgar” Comments – Calls to Remove Him Grow

BREAKING: Elon Musk Faces Massive Backlash from Taylor Swift Fans Following Controversial Comments – Calls for His Removal Intensify In a rapidly unfolding controversy, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk…

“DON’T TRY TO BUY ME WITH MONEY!” – Tennis star Alexandra Eala fiercely rejected a $10 million offer from Elon Musk. This bold and principled decision not only stunned the media, but also prompted an unexpected reaction from Musk — leaving the world in shock!

“DON’T TRY TO BUY ME WITH MONEY!” – Tennis Star Alexandra Eala Angrily Turned Down a $10 Million Offer from Elon Musk. This Bold and Principled Move Not…

Katy Perry fainted after completing an 11-minute space trip when she returned home.

div[data-widget-] { min-height: 300px; } Katy Perry Rushed to Hospital After Space Trip: Mysterious Bacteria Sparks Global Panic! Just one hour ago, the entertainment world was rocked by…

Joy Behar Announces Plans to Move to Canada: “I Don’t Want to Live Under the Same Sky with Him”

In a move that has sent shockwaves across social media, Joy Behar, the outspoken co-host of The View, has declared that she will be leaving the United States to settle in…

4 MINUTES AGO: Elon Musk OFFICIALLY Bought Tiktok

In a stunning development, Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest individual, has reportedly acquired TikTok, adding the popular video-sharing platform to his diverse portfolio that already includes Twitter and…

Alec Baldwin lost an $86 million sponsorship deal after calling Elon Musk a “damn idiot” and saying, “I can’t live here for 4 years.

Iп aп unexpected twist iп the worlds of Hollywood aпd bυsiпess, actor Αlec Baldwiп has foυпd himself embroiled iп coпtroversy after his pυblic commeпts aboυt tech mogυl Eloп…