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4d ago

Oldest Known Ant Fossil Found in Brazil Reveals Early Predatory Adaptations

A 113-million-year-old hell ant fossil, preserved in limestone, challenges assumptions about early ant evolution and global dispersal.

The 113 million-year-old fossil of a hell ant preserves tiny details of the insect's wings.
A paleoartistic reconstruction of the new species, based on the fossil and on a close relative species found in amber from Myanmar.
A CT scan was used to visualize what the ant would have looked like.

Overview

  • Researchers identified a 113-million-year-old hell ant fossil from Brazil's Crato Formation, making it the oldest known ant specimen.
  • The fossil belongs to the extinct Haidomyrmecinae subfamily, known for their scythe-like jaws and unique predatory adaptations.
  • Advanced micro-CT imaging revealed forward-projecting mandibles and a horn-like projection, indicating sophisticated hunting strategies in early ants.
  • This is the first hell ant fossil found in rock rather than amber, expanding knowledge of fossil preservation and early insect evolution.
  • The discovery suggests ants were already globally dispersed during the Cretaceous, challenging previous biogeographical models.