10/16/2008
Recently, Tufts geology major, Richard J. Knecht discovered a spectacular trace fossil of a flying insect from the North Attleboro area during work for his senior thesis. The fossil represents the oldest full body impression of a flying insect in the fossil record. Its importance lies in the fact that the animal that made it was alive and left behind evidence of its behavior and anatomy. These clues have led paleoentomologist Michael Engel of the University of Kansas to speculate that it may be a distant relative of modern mayflies.
Media coverage has been extensive, but a few links can be found below:
- Boston Globe
- WJAR NBC 10, Providence, RI
- Attleboro Sun Chronicle
- National Geographic
- WHDH NBC 7, Boston
