113-million-year-old ‘hell ant' is the oldest ever found, scientists say
An overlooked fossil in a Brazilian museum has now been identified as the oldest known ant specimen, dating back 113 million years. This discovery has been published in the journal Current Biology.
The fossil, named Vulcanidris Cratensis, was reportedly found in the Crato Formation of northeastern Brazil, a site which is well renowned for its well-preserved fossils. Anderson Lepeco, a researcher at the Museum of Zoology of the University of São Paulo, stumbled upon the specimen in September 2024 while examining the museum's collection. "I was just shocked to see that weird projection in front of this (insect's) head," Lepeco told CNN.
This ancient ant belongs to the extinct subfamily
Haidomyrmecinae
, commonly referred to as "hell ants." As per reports, these ants are characterized by their scythe-like jaws, which served as a way to impale a prey. Unlike the previous hell ant fossils found in Myanmar, this one was preserved in rock which made it a rare find.
Credit: X/@Extinct_AnimaIs
The discovery suggests that ants were already widespread during the early Cretaceous period. Phil Barden, an associate professor at the New Jersey Institute of Technology who studies insect evolution, commented on the significance of the find. "This new find now represents the oldest ant known; it extends the known fossil record for ants by about ten million years," Barden said via email to CNN.
Micro-computed tomography imaging revealed that Vulcanidris cratensis had anatomical features linking it to wasps, indicating a common ancestry. Its wings had more veins than those of modern ants, and its jaws projected forward from near the eyes, functioning like a "forklift" to capture prey, according to Lepeco.
Credit: X/@Extinct_AnimaIs
The fossil's preservation in rock, rather than amber, provides a unique opportunity to study the morphology of early ants. This discovery pushes the timeline of evolution of ant.
In the modern world, ants are among the most abundant insects on Earth, found on every continent except Antarctica. However, they evolved approximately 145 million years ago, diverging from ancestors shared with wasps and bees.
The discovery of Vulcanidris Cratensis sheds light on the early diversification of ants and their role during the age of dinosaurs. It emphasizes the importance of museum collections in uncovering significant paleontological findings.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
18 hours ago
- Indian Express
Giant Roman shoes found at Hadrian's Wall raise questions about ancient soldiers
Archaeologists have found several pairs of unusually large Roman shoes during excavations at Magna Fort, a Roman military site along the Hadrian's Wall in northern England, CNN reported. The discovery included 34 leather shoes, eight of which are over 30 centimetres long — size much larger than most Roman footwear discovered earlier, as per the report. The largest sole measures about 32.6 cm, roughly UK size 14. It has led researchers to question who wore these giant shoes and whether unusually tall individuals were stationed at the site. 'When we found the first large shoe, we thought maybe it was stuffed for warmth or worn with thick socks,' CNN reported quoting Rachel Frame, the lead archaeologist on the project. 'But then we found more, in different styles. It seems they really did belong to people with very large feet.' Magna Fort was built around AD 85 and housed different Roman troops and their families over the years, as archaeologists suspect. Inscriptions on the fort's walls mention soldiers from places such as present-day Syria, Croatia, Serbia and the Netherlands, even though the length of their stay remains unknown. According to Frame, as new groups moved in, they would build over the older structures, leaving behind items like shoes, clothing and tools. Many belongings were left in ditches or buried in the walls during rebuilding. 'Often, when troops left for other regions, they abandoned things in a hurry,' Frame told CNN. 'Those objects then got sealed into the soil by later construction.' While most Roman shoes found in the area are much smaller, that is, closer to UK men's size 8, these larger ones suggests at least some soldiers may have been taller than average. 'Ancient Roman manuals say ideal soldiers were about 5 feet 8 or 9,' said Rob Collins, a professor at Newcastle University, speaking to CNN. 'But the soldiers stationed around Hadrian's Wall came from all around the far-reaching empire, bringing a wide diversity of physical traits to their settlements,' Collins added. Researchers hope to learn more about the shoe owners by studying wear patterns or foot impressions left in the shoes, CNN noted. However, connecting the shoes to specific individuals may be difficult as Romans in the area often cremated their dead, leaving little in the way of bones or physical remains. Only a few fragile bones have been recovered at Magna so far, which are too soft and crumbly to provide any clarity. Still, Frame said pottery and other artifacts at the site might help piece together timelines of the inhabitants. The leather soles have survived for nearly 2,000 years due to the low-oxygen condition of the soil, however, Frame warned that changing weather patterns are now putting such findings at risk. 'The more our climate changes, the more we get heat waves and droughts, or months' worth of rain in one weekend type (of) scenarios, the more that influences the underground soil conditions and introduces more oxygen into these environments,' Frame explained. The Magna shoes are in worse condition than those found at nearby Vindolanda Fort decades ago, likely due to these climate shifts. '… for me, archaeology is about the story of everybody else … the stories of the people whose lives weren't written down, who weren't kings or emperors or famous heroes,' she said. 'These personal objects really put the real human people back into the picture.'
NDTV
21 hours ago
- NDTV
Biggest Piece Of Mars On Earth Is Up For Auction In New York. All About It
Washington: A rare and pristine Martian meteorite, the largest of its kind ever found on Earth, is set to go under the hammer at Sotheby's in New York on July 16. Known as NWA 16788, the rock from Mars could sell for upwards of $4 million (approx Rs 33.4 crore), with bids already reaching $1.6 million (approx Rs 13 crore) nearly a week before the auction. The meteorite weighs over 25 kg and is 15 inches wide. It is about 70 per cent bigger than any other piece of Mars ever found on Earth. It was discovered in 2023 in Niger's remote Agadez Region, after journeying roughly 225 million miles through space. According to Sotheby's, Martian meteorites are exceedingly rare, comprising only about 0.6 per cent of the 77,000 officially recognised meteorites found on Earth. Only 400 Martian rocks are known to exist, and this particular specimen makes up about 6.5 per cent of all Martian material ever recovered on Earth. The meteorite likely originated from a massive asteroid strike that ejected debris from Mars into space. One of those fragments eventually made its way to Earth, surviving the entry through the atmosphere before crashing into the Sahara Desert. "This isn't just a miraculous find, but a massive dataset that can help us unlock the secrets of our neighbour, the red planet," said Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby's vice chairman of science and natural history, in a video released by the auction house. "The odds of this getting from there to here are astronomically small," she added. Sotheby's notes that NWA 16788 shows minimal terrestrial weathering, indicating that its physical and chemical makeup remains largely intact since its fall. "NWA 16788 is likely a relative newcomer here on Earth," the auction listing says. Some scientists are concerned about the potential loss of valuable research material to private hands. "It would be a shame if it disappeared into the vault of an oligarch. It belongs in a museum, where it can be studied, and where it can be enjoyed by children and families and the public at large," said Steve Brusatte, professor of paleontology and evolution at the University of Edinburgh, in an interview with CNN. The meteorite is currently on public view at Sotheby's New York galleries until July 15. The July 16 Natural History auction will also feature ancient fossils, dinosaur skeletons, and other rare geological formations.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Snake Island is the deadliest place on Earth: 4,000 vipers, one per square metre, and zero tourists allowed
Snake Island is the deadliest place on Earth Roughly 33 kilometres off Brazil's São Paulo coast sits a rocky lump just 106 acres wide. Locals call it Ilha da Queimada Grande, but the rest of the world knows it as Snake Island. The nickname is no exaggeration. Biologists counting hides and shed skins estimate somewhere between 2,000 and 4,000 golden lancehead vipers live here, a density that can reach one snake per square metre in parts of the forest floor. The golden lancehead (Bothrops insularis) exists nowhere else and carries venom up to five times stronger than its mainland cousins. Brazilian authorities banned public landings in the 1920s; even Navy crews who service the automated lighthouse bring a doctor and anti-venom as standard kit. In short, it is a place where humans aren't welcome, and the snakes are barely hanging on. Where is Snake Island and how did so many venomous snakes end up here Queimada Grande lies in the Atlantic, about 90 km south-west of São Paulo city. The rock rises steeply from sea level, ringed by cliffs that make beach landings tricky even without fanged residents. Sea levels rose around 11,000 years ago, cutting the hilltop off from the mainland and trapping a small population of lancehead ancestors. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why seniors are rushing to get this Internet box – here's why! Techno Mag Learn More Undo With no ground predators and few mammals to hunt, the snakes turned their attention upward, ambushing migrating songbirds. Over millennia, their venom evolved to drop birds in seconds, before the prey could fly off and die elsewhere. Golden lancehead at the Snake Island Trait Detail Scientific name Bothrops insularis Average length 70–90 cm Venom strength ≈5× Bothrops jararaca (mainland relative) IUCN status Critically Endangered – population falling Main prey Migratory birds (Chilean elaenia, yellow-legged thrush) The bite can cause kidney failure, brain haemorrhage and tissue necrosis; untreated, similar lancehead bites carry up to a 7 percent fatality rate. No verified medical cases exist from the island itself because people rarely set foot there. Golden lancehead Why are humans not allowed to visit Snake Island Safety – A dense viper population plus steep terrain make rescue tough. Conservation – Smugglers once offered up to $30,000 per live snake for the exotic-pet trade. Research control – only vetted herpetologists with multiple permits and a medical escort may land; the Navy checks the lighthouse once a year. Snake Island: Myths, legends and the truth Stories talk of pirates seeding snakes to protect buried gold, or a lighthouse keeper's family dying overnight. In reality, the population boom is an accident of geology, and documented human deaths on the island are anecdotal—scientists describe the vipers as surprisingly shy when approached slowly. Illegal collection is shrinking genetic diversity; as few as 25–40 snakes removed per year could trigger extinction, modelling shows. Loss of bird prey: deforestation on the mainland is reducing the migratory flocks that the snakes rely on. Inbreeding effects: Researchers have recorded intersex individuals and lower fertility linked to a tiny gene pool. Viper Snakes Can anyone visit Snake Island? For the general public, the answer is simply no. Brazil's environmental agency (ICMBio) and the Navy block tourism permits. Scientists must file detailed research proposals, carry satellite phones, and bring enough antivenom for every team member. Even then, a doctor must join the expedition. The island's eerie reputation usually overshadows its bigger story: a single, isolated species trying to survive climate shifts, poachers and shrinking food supply. The ban that keeps thrill-seekers away also buys conservationists time to study the golden lancehead's venom, which has already shown promise for treating blood-pressure disorders. The place is deadly for people, sure, but it is the snakes that may need saving next Snake Island related FAQs 1. How many snakes live on Snake Island? Best estimates range 2,000–4,000 golden lanceheads, roughly one per square metre in dense spots. 2. Why is the golden lancehead so venomous? Isolation forced it to hunt birds; faster-acting venom stops prey from flying off before dying. 3. Is it legal to step ashore with a private boat? No. Only research teams with federal and naval permits can land, and they must bring a physician. 4. Do any people live there today? No one has lived on the island since the lighthouse was automated in the 1920s. 5. Could the species go extinct? Yes—poaching, inbreeding and falling bird numbers place the golden lancehead on the Critically Endangered list.
