Oldest 'hell ant' fossil discovered in Brazil reshapes ant evolution
Scientists have discovered the oldest known ant, belonging to the extinct subfamily Haidomyrmecinae, also known as "hell ants," which primarily inhabited the Latin American region. "What makes this discovery particularly interesting is that it belongs to the extinct 'hell ant,' known for their bizarre predatory adaptations," said Anderson Lepeco from the Zoology Museum of the University of São Paulo. This discovery sheds new light on the evolution of these unique insects.
The oldest known ant, which lived on Earth over 113 million years ago, was discovered in Brazil. The fossil, found in limestone, belongs to the extinct subfamily Haidomyrmecinae, known as "hell ants." These insects were characterised by their vertically set mandibles, which served to grasp prey.
The newly discovered species, named Vulcanidris cratensis, is the first known representative of "hell ants" found on the South American continent. The discovery of such a highly specialised, anatomically advanced insect challenges our previous beliefs about the rate at which these insects developed complex adaptations.
The research team, led by Anderson Lepeco from the University of São Paulo's Zoology Museum, used micro-CT technology to analyse the fossil. The studies showed that V. cratensis is closely related to the species Aquilomyrmex huangi, known from Myanmar amber.
The discovery sheds new light on how this extraordinary group of insects evolved. The complex body structure suggests that even ants from 113 million years ago already had advanced predatory strategies that differed significantly from those used by contemporary species.
"Hell ants" could have been one of the first evolutionary lines to diverge from the rest of the ants. Their presence in a new region and at such an early geological period provides valuable information on the evolution of these insects.
