New FAMILY discovered

[smt126]

Congrats on the new find. I think that many of us here dream of finding something new. That was very sweet to name it after your wife. That should earn you some bonus points for a long time.

[Yvie]

Congratulations what a find

[Dave pom Allen]

Congratulations, Blake

[MeargleSchmeargl]

5 hours ago, FossilDudeCO said:

This is a huge announcement I have to make. It has been under wraps for quite a few months now and some of you may recall my damselfly find from the July 2017 Fossil of the Month contest.

Well a HUGE thanks is in order for @oilshale for pointing me in the direction of one of his friends to help identify this beautiful specimen.

 

Turns out this is not just a new species, or even genus, but an entirely new FAMILY that will soon be published!!!

 

This damselfly will be labeled as the type specimen (Holotype) for the Family, Genus, AND Species.

 

I donated this beautiful bug to my friends over at Fossil Butte National Monument where staff has been working to catalogue and name many of their unidentified insect specimens. This Damselfly will be a great addition for them as they build a new exhibit focused on insects of the Green River in the next year or so.

 

This bug was a very special find for me, and knowing that it was going to be the type specimen adds even more to it.

I haven't been able to post this in part because it was meant as a Christmas present for my wife. She was speechless to find out that the species will be named after her. 

I have no idea how I will ever up myself from this, but here's to trying.

 

This has definitely been a highlight in my fossil career and I can't imagine ever finding another type specimen. I am happy to know that you all will share in my excitement and when the paper is finally published I will make sure to share it here as well! 

 

Attached is a copy of the letter from Fossil Butte National Monument, edited of course, and if you read it you will see why!

 

 

 

A Family Holotype.....

 

 

 

 

 

Words cannot describe how oh so Jelly I am of you! 

 

 

 

 

Congrats, bro!

[Ludwigia]

Now that is something REALLY special! Congratulations!

[caldigger]

Ok, I guess I have to be the brave one here. I'm going to step out on a limb and start the bidding on the insect plate at $2. I am pretty sure nobody else would want it, so it's pretty much a sure thing. 

[RCFossils]

Beautiful fossil

 

[Wrangellian]

Congrats! Pretty impressive - the fossil first, and now this! - I also wonder how often a new family comes up, particularly from members of TFF. New species seem to be a dime a dozen (almost).

[digit]

8 minutes ago, Wrangellian said:

New species seem to be a dime a dozen (almost).

I'll take 2.5 dozen then.

 

 

But seriously, you are correct in that the higher up the taxonomic tree the more difficult it is to add a new branch. A new family is pretty impressive.

 

 

Cheers.

 

-Ken

[Wrangellian]

Yep. I'd be happy to get a new species, and I could probably do it just by submitting some of my 'puzzler' specimens to the museum or the right researcher. I would be even happier to get a new genus, but wouldn't expect it to happen in my lifetime.

[Doctor Mud]

Congratulations!

A species - wonderful, genus - wow!, family???? Amazing!!!!

 

and what a nice touch naming it after your wife, that's gotta count for a few years of brownie points!

[jdp]

That's amazing! Congrats on your important find and thank you so much for sharing it with all of us by donating the specimen to science! Beautiful fossil!

[Max-fossils]

14 hours ago, WhodamanHD said:

Ah, seemed to have missed that, thanks man 

[jpc]

Excellent, Blake.  This is really cool.  

[MarleysGh0st]

That's fantastic, Blake!

[thair]

This is outstanding, Congrats. To bad it couldn't have been a flower rather than a bug. But at least its a damselfly not a cockroach

[dirtdauber]

Congratulations, Blake! Outstanding find!

[Xiphactinus]

Congrats! Super jealous!! I've was excited when I got a genus, but family.....that's a whole new level.

[FossilDudeCO]

5 hours ago, thair said:

This is outstanding, Congrats. To bad it couldn't have been a flower rather than a bug. But at least its a damselfly not a cockroach

Funny you mention that. We also found the first known cockroach this summer. 

It is a new genus and possibly new family as well. 

[thair]

That's so cool. How do you get along with your Mother in law?

[Malcolmt]

Definately beyond awesome

[Nimravis]

Blake, I just saw this post, Congrats.

[aplomado]

Wow, what a gift!

[Cris]

It shouldn't be a surprise to anybody, but this just won the 2017 invertebrate fossil of the year contest! Congratulations on the incredible find.

[Chippewa]

That is an amazing find.  Congrat's and thanks for posting the letter - that's really cool.  

Oh and you're a genius with the naming.  You are likely to get more encouragement to go hunting