Ancient Ant Specimen Allegedly Employed Unusual Jaws to Grasp Prey, According to Scientists
A new fossilized ant species dating back 113 million years, discovered in Brazil, sheds light on a previously unknown chapter in ant evolution. Named Vulcanidris cratensis, this ancient ant belonged to the extinct subfamily Haidomyrmecinae, often referred to as "hell ants."
Researchers at the Museum of Zoology at the University of São Paulo studied the fossilized ant using micro-computed tomography, a 3D imaging technique, and found that it possessed unique jaw structures. Unlike modern ants, which have mandibles that move sideways, the hell ant had mandibles that moved forward, parallel to the head, creating a scythe-like shape.
This adaptation might have allowed the hell ant to pin down prey, challenging assumptions about the rapid development of complex adaptations among ants. The intricate morphology of the jaw structures suggests that even these earliest ants had already evolved sophisticated predatory strategies significantly different from their modern counterparts.
The researchers believe that the Vulcanidris cratensis is closely related to other previously discovered hell ant species preserved in amber in Myanmar. This discovery, published in the journal Current Biology, indicates that Haidomyrmecinae ants had already spread across the globe by this time, suggesting a broad distribution across various Cretaceous landmasses.
Anderson Lepeco, a researcher from the Museum of Zoology at the University of São Paulo, expressed his excitement about the discovery. "Finding such an anatomically specialized ant from 113 million years ago is a significant finding," he said. "This discovery highlights the importance of thorough examination of existing collections and brings a spotlight to Brazilian paleontology and the underexplored fossil insect fauna of the country."
The study suggests that ants had already diversified and expanded across the world 113 million years ago, providing insights into the evolution of one of the most successful insects on the planet. The findings emphasize the rich ecological experimentation in ant evolution during the age of dinosaurs.
- Gizmodo reported on the discovery of Vulcanidris cratensis, a 113-million-year-old fossilized ant species, shedding light on ancient ant evolution.
- In the journal Current Biology, researchers described the unique jaw structures of the hell ant, which moved forward, challenging expectations about early ant adaptations.
- The intricate morphology of the hell ant's jaw structures indicates that these earliest ants had already evolved complex and significant predatory strategies, contrasting with their modern counterparts.
- Anderson Lepeco from the Museum of Zoology at the University of São Paulo highlighted the importance of the discovery, emphasizing the need for thorough examination of fossil anthropod collections and the under-explored fossil insect fauna of Brazil.
