Discovery of late Eocene amber from the Maoming Basin, Guangdong Province

The Eocene was characterized by globally warm climates and high biodiversity, making Eocene amber a valuable resource for reconstructing palaeoenvironment and continental palaeobiota. The Maoming Basin in West Guangdong Province, South China, preserves a rich fossil record of Eocene-Oligocene biota, indicative of a humid subtropical climate. Here we report two distinct amber types from the Youganwo Formation of Maoming Basin, found in Huidang village and Yezi village, respectively. The first type, from Huidang village, represents the most abundant and largest amber specimens documented in Guangdong to date, preserved alongside fragments of angiosperm leaves. The second type, from Yezi village, occurs as infills within plant resin/gum ducts, preserved with resin-producing fossilized wood. These findings highlight the Maoming Basin as a significant locality for the late Eocene biota, providing crucial insights into biodiversity and enhancing our understanding of Eocene palaeoecology and palaeoclimate in the region.