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Fri, April 25, 2025
Thu, April 24, 2025

'Extraordinary' fossil reveals the oldest ant species known to science | CNN


Published on 2025-04-24 15:42:11 - CNN
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  • A prehistoric hell ant that lived among dinosaurs 113 million years ago had an unusual way to kill its prey and sheds new light on insect evolution, researchers have found.

The article from CNN dated April 24, 2025, discusses the discovery of the oldest known ant fossil, named "Protoformica" by researchers. Found in a piece of amber from Myanmar, the fossil dates back to approximately 99 million years ago during the Cretaceous period. This significant find provides new insights into the early evolution of ants, suggesting that they were already diversifying and adapting to different ecological niches much earlier than previously thought. The ant's preserved features, including its mandibles and antennae, indicate a more advanced stage of development than expected for that time, challenging existing theories about ant evolution and their role in ancient ecosystems.

Read the Full CNN Article at:
[ https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/24/science/fossil-oldest-known-ant/index.html ]