在德国的一个火山坑,科学家最近发掘出了一块保存完好的虱子化石,从而初步澄清了虱子这种“卑鄙动物”的起源问题。而在这以前,虱子的进化历史一直很不明朗。 这块化石已有4400万年的历史。这个古老的虱子同当今专门吞噬水乌羽毛的一种虱子外形非常相似,同时它也是一种专门吸食哺乳动物血的虱子的近亲。 In a volcanic crater in Germany, scientists recently discovered a well-preserved lice fossil, initially clarifying the origin of lice, a “dirty animal.” Prior to this, the evolutionary history of lice has been very uncertain. This fossil has 44 million years of history. This ancient louse resembles a lice profile that today exclusively engulfs black feathers, and it is also a close relative of lice that specializes in mammalian blood.