Panivorax atavus

“atavistic bread devourer”

Kingdom
Papyrae
Division
Chartoniphyta
Class
Occlupanopsida
Order
Ephemerodectales
Family
Toxodentaceae
Genus
Panivorax
Species
P. atavus
External morphology

Stiff fibrous integument. Rectangular lateral palps. Size 21.7 mm x 24 mm.

First encountered on 2023 December 27, this specimen was found preying on English muffins of Tiptop Bakery in Sydney, Australia. Later research found that this species also occasionally preys on sliced bread, such as Bakers Life’s Bakehouse brand. Having a similar appearance to Paniraptor anebos, this species does not have widened lateral sides, but instead has rectangular lateral palps. This phenomenon might indicate an attempt by occlupanopsids to evolve and mimic more common palp-bearing occlupanids. Species discovered and described by Kurisu.