The higher-level phylogeny of the arthropods continues to be a matter of debate and research. In 2008, researchers at Tufts University uncovered what they believe is the world's oldest known full-body impression of a primitive flying insect, a 300 million-year-old specimen from the Carboniferous period. The oldest definitive insect fossil is the Devonian Rhyniognatha hirsti, from the 396-million-year-old Rhynie chert. It may have superficially resembled a modern-day silverfish insect. This species already possessed dicondylic mandibles (two articulations in the mandible), a feature associated with winged insects, suggesting that wings may already have evolved at this time. Thus, the first insects probably appeared earlier, in the Silurian period. COUNT 10
QSN1 From what period do researchers believe that the oldest known full-body impression of a flying insect originates? ANS1 Carboniferous QSN2 What is believed to be the oldest known insect fossil? ANS2 Devonian Rhyniognatha hirsti QSN3 In what year did Tufts researchers reportedly uncover what is believed to be the oldest known impression of a flying insect? ANS3 2008 QSN4 What is the term for a mandible with two articulations? ANS4 dicondylic QSN5 With what type of insect is a dicondylic mandible associated? ANS5 winged QSN6 What higher-level is constantly up for debate and research? ANS6 phylogeny QSN7 The higher-level phylogeny is of the what? ANS7 arthropods QSN8 What kind of impression has been uncovered by a University? ANS8 full-body QSN9 A University discovered a primitive flying what? ANS9 insect QSN10 How old is the primitive plying insect found by the University? ANS10 300 million-year-old