Seminar

the Tongchuan entomofauna and Fotan Biota

Age constraints for two terrestrial biotas and study on Mesozoic dragonfly in Asia

  • Date

    February 14,2017

  • Time

    12:45PM

  • Venue

    JL104

  • Speaker

    Mr. Daran Zheng Department of Earth Sciences, HKU

Two terrestrial biotas are reported herein with isotopic ages, i.e., the Tongchuan entomofauna and Fotan Biota. The former is one of the most diversified Middle Triassic entomofaunas worldwide, suggesting a rapid insect radiation after the end Permian mass extinction. The latter is a typical Miocene tropical forest comprising high-diversified Fotan flora and Zhangpu amber inclusions, and can help to understand the origin, evolution and migration of the tropical forest in SE Asia. Besides, abundant Mesozoic dragonfly fossils were described from North China and Burmese amber. A unique damselfly showing visual courtship behaviour is firstly reported herein from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber.