Sialomorpha


Sialomorpha dominicana, also known as the mold pig, is a panarthropod genus of uncertain affinities discovered in 30-million year old Dominican amber by George Poinar at Oregon State University and Diane R. Nelson at East Tennessee University.[1][2] It was placed in a new genus and family (Sialomorphidae) unto itself, and appears to represent a new phylum. S. dominicana shares some resemblance to tardigrades and mites.[3] It is about 100 µm long and grew by molting its exoskeleton.[4] It was probably an omnivore, feeding on minute invertebrates and fungi, including mold.[1]