What geological age does the fossil specimen *Zekuforma maculata* date back to?
Answer
The Middle Triassic period
The identification of the fossilized specimen known as *Zekuforma maculata* established a much earlier antiquity for water beetles than previously thought. This specific insect specimen was dated to approximately 230 million years ago, firmly placing its existence within the Middle Triassic period. This finding is significant because it suggests that the initial evolutionary diversification leading to aquatic forms was underway well before the peak dominance of the dinosaurs, providing a crucial, ancient anchor point for understanding the broader ancestral group from which modern water beetles eventually emerged.
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