A FINE TRIO OF LA BREA TAR PIT BEETLES . ...

Description

A FINE TRIO OF LA BREA TAR PIT BEETLES
Hydrophilius sp. - Matrix with Two
Cybister sp. - Matrix with One
Pleistocene
Rancho La Brea Formation, Kern County, California
The Tar Pits of Late Pleistocene Southern California were literally swarming with aquatic life in the shallow pools of water that covered and disguised the sticky tar seeps underneath. The most common fauna in these "death pools", where the large animal life of the time and were inexorably pulled down into the liquid asphalt to meet an untimely end. Predaceous water beetles which feasted on these animals while they were sinking became trapped in the sticky tar as well. These two matrix specimens are from two different species of these carnivorous beetles, preserved on their original asphalt matrices, each measuring approximately 2 x 2 1/2 inches. The larger beetle is from genus Hydrophilius and two individuals, one exposed from the ventral or belly side, are exposed on its matrix. The other specimen displays a single individual of genus Cybister. Both specimens exhibit the superb preservation possible in the tar pits. An excellent assemblage for any collector fascinated by the La Brea Tar Pits.

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