A fossil discovered in a Brazilian museum collection has revealed the oldest ant specimen known to science, dating back 113 million years to the time of dinosaurs. The prehistoric ant, named Vulcanidris cratensis, lived among dinosaurs and had an unusual way to kill its prey. Its scythe-like jaws likely used to pin or impale prey.
The discovery sheds light on how ants evolved during the early Cretaceous period and offers insights into their evolution and unique features. Unlike modern ants, which have lateral-grasping jaws, Vulcanidris cratensis had parallel scythe-like jaws that projected forward from near its eyes.
This ancient ant species was found preserved in limestone and is part of a large collection of fossilized insects at the Museum of Zoology of the University of São Paulo. The discovery extends the known fossil record for ants by about ten million years, providing new information on their evolutionary history.
Researchers believe that the absence of older ant fossils may be due to the fact that they were not preserved in deposits where people were looking. However, this newly identified species has revealed a more complex and sophisticated predatory strategy for ancient ants.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/24/science/fossil-oldest-known-ant/index.html