Tanaka Gengo, Parker Andrew R, Siveter David J, Maeda Haruyoshi, Furutani Masumi
Gunma Museum of Natural History, 1674-1 Kamikuroiwa, Tomioka, Gunma 370-2345, Japan.
Proc Biol Sci. 2009 Mar 22;276(1659):1015-9. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2008.1467.
The exceptionally preserved eyes of an Eocene dolichopodid fly contained in Baltic amber show remarkable detail, including features at micrometre and submicrometre levels. Based on this material, we establish that it is likely that the neural superposition compound eye existed as far back as 45 Ma. The ommatidia have an open rhabdom with a trapezoidal arrangement of seven rhabdomeres. Such a structure is uniquely characteristic of the neural superposition compound eye of present-day flies. Optical analysis reveals that the fossil eyes had a sophisticated and efficient optical system.
保存在波罗的海琥珀中的始新世长足虻的眼睛保存异常完好，展现出了非凡的细节，包括微米和亚微米级别的特征。基于这些材料，我们确定神经重叠复眼很可能早在4500万年前就已存在。小眼具有开放的视杆，七个视杆节呈梯形排列。这样的结构是当今苍蝇神经重叠复眼独有的特征。光学分析表明，这些化石眼睛拥有一个复杂而高效的光学系统。
