{"product_id":"hydrophilius-sp-california-002","title":"Hydrophilius sp.-California 002","description":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTaxa:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003cem\u003eHydrophilius sp.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGeology:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Asphalt Pits\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAge:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Pleistocene\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLocality:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e McKittrick, California\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e 1.6\"x1.1\"x0.9\" or 3.3x3.8x2.6 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e No repairs or restorations\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHydrophilius\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-89\"\u003eHydrophilus\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-89 citation-end-89\"\u003e is a prominent genus of large water scavenger beetles belonging to the family Hydrophilidae.\u003csup class=\"superscript\" data-turn-source-index=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-88 citation-end-88\"\u003eTypically found in shallow, slow-moving freshwater habitats like ponds, marshes, and weedy ditches, these beetles are characterized by their smooth, oval, streamlined black or dark brown bodies.\u003csup class=\"superscript\" data-turn-source-index=\"2\"\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-87\"\u003eUnlike active predatory diving beetles, adult \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci data-path-to-node=\"0\" data-index-in-node=\"346\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-87\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHydrophilus\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-87 citation-end-87\"\u003especies primarily function as peaceful herbivores or scavengers that feed on algae and decaying plant matter, though their voracious larvae are known predators of snails and other small aquatic invertebrates.\u003csup class=\"superscript\" data-turn-source-index=\"3\"\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-86 citation-end-86\"\u003eA notable feature of these insects is their unique method of respiration: rather than surfacing tail-first, they break the water surface head-first and use their clubbed antennae to trap and pull down a fresh supply of air, which is held against their belly as a shimmering, silvery film\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-86 citation-end-86\"\u003eMcKittrick Tar Pits\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-86 citation-end-86\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e \u003cspan class=\"citation-105\"\u003eThe McKittrick Tar Pits\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-105 citation-end-105\"\u003e are a series of natural asphalt and oil seeps located along the western edge of Kern County in California’s San Joaquin Valley.\u003csup class=\"superscript\" data-turn-source-index=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-104 citation-end-104\"\u003eOriginating from the underlying McKittrick Oil Field, these sticky asphalt deposits have functioned as natural death traps for tens of thousands of years, ensnaring an immense array of Late Pleistocene flora and fauna—ranging from saber-toothed cats, dire wolves, ground sloths, and mammoths to countless birds and insects.\u003csup class=\"superscript\" data-turn-source-index=\"2\"\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-103 citation-end-103\"\u003eSimilar in age and ecological significance to the more famous La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles, the site was extensively excavated by academic and museum researchers during the 20th century, yielding remarkably well-preserved, unmineralized bones that provide a vital window into the climate, geology, and ancient biodiversity of Ice Age California.\u003csup class=\"superscript\" data-turn-source-index=\"3\"\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003csup class=\"superscript\" data-turn-source-index=\"4\"\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Minute Man Fossils","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48528941351049,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0586\/1022\/1193\/files\/20261002-151649.jpg?v=1791303868","url":"https:\/\/www.minutemantradingpost.com\/products\/hydrophilius-sp-california-002","provider":"Minute Man Fossils","version":"1.0","type":"link"}