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Scientists Discover 120 Million Year-Old Ant Species
Reuters reports that biologists discovered a species of ant living in the Amazon that they believe has been around for 120 million years. The ant species is blind, subterranean and predatory. German biologists believe it is the oldest ant species on the planet
Researchers from Karlsruhe’s Natural History Museum found the 3-millimeter-long (0.118 inch) insect in the Amazon rainforest in 2007, and hope it will shed light on the early evolution of ants.
“It’s by far the most spectacular find of my 26-year career,” said museum biologist Manfred Verhaagh on Tuesday.
Scientists from Karlsruhe originally found an unidentified species of ant of a similar type in the Brazilian rainforest in 2003. However, due to an accident in the laboratory, the insect dried up, making further research impossible, Verhaagh said.
Last year a separate team from the museum’s research body was in the forest investigating fungus when they stumbled upon the tiny insect, and named it “Martialis heureka”.
The ant discovery is yet another reason why the Amazon rainforest needs to be preserved. Sciam says the scientists hope it will help lead to more information about how ants have evolved over time.
Photo Credit: Christian Rabeling, the University of Texas at Austin
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