What is rhyniognatha?

Rhyniognatha is an extinct genus of small arthropods that lived during the Early Devonian period, around 408-398 million years ago. They belonged to the group known as Collembola, commonly referred to as springtails, which are primitive, wingless insects.

Rhyniognatha fossils have been found in deposits in Scotland and are important for understanding the early evolution of insects. They are some of the oldest known insects and provide valuable insights into the development of the insect lineage.

These tiny creatures had specialized mouthparts designed for feeding on decaying organic matter. They likely played a role in the decomposition of plant material in their ancient environment.

Overall, Rhyniognatha is an important genus for understanding the early diversity and evolution of insects on Earth.